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Judges’ Stats for Mars PA Social Security Hearings (Sept 2024)
Are you wondering if you got a good judge for your Mars PA Social Security Hearing for Disability or SSI scheduled in the Office of Hearing Operations (OHO)? Do you want to know everything you can about the where, why and how of the hearing itself? You’re not alone, most of our clients desperately want to know every detail of their Disability Hearing so that they have the best chance of winning. You might have a hearing in Mars PA if you have a Social Security Disability/SSI appeal and live in Ambridge, Butler, Cranberry (formerly Oil City), Erie, Kittanning, Meadville, New Castle, New Kensington, or Sharon. The Mars PA Social Security hearing office is located in Sevens Field across from the Shoppes at Adams Ridge. You can find the name of your judge on a hearing scheduled notice or call the number for the hearing office (at the bottom of this page). Here are all the judges’ statistics and other information that your Social Security Disability Hearing Lawyer would give you leading up to the hearing date.
Judges’ Statistics
The following table is up to date as of September 2024:
Judge | Percent Approved |
Bezego, William J | 59% |
Cohen, Douglas | 61% |
Grovich, Christopher P | 65% |
Kleeb, Kelli J | 58% |
Kooser, John | 67% |
Tenenbaum, Melissa | 46% |
Wood, Brian W | 62% |
Tip: Your lawyer (if you have one) will ask you questions in the hearing, and the Judge will probably ask you questions. That’s it, there is no lawyer for the other side like on TV. But sometimes the Judge will ask you questions as if they are cross-examining you. So be well prepared!
The Quality of Mars PA Social Security Judges
Great news! The Social Security Hearing Office in Mars PA has above average judges when it comes to case approval percentages. The national average for case approval rate is 54%, and you’ll notice from the above table that all but one of the judges are above average. Many people have really good experiences, because some of the judges and staff genuinely care about other people. But many have very bad experiences in Mars/Seven Fields because it still is Social Security, run by the government, which is a complete and utter mess. The judges there are doing the best they can. Do they get decisions wrong sometimes? Of course, they are human. Only those with very low case approval rates would I call biased.
For example, for Mars PA Social Security hearings, Administrative Law Judge Melissa Tenenbaum has the lowest case approval percentage at 46%. This rate is actually not very low and the Judge could very well be a reasonable person but just a little skeptical. That being said, if you draw a judge with below 50% approval rate then you will need a decent case to win. That usually means that if you’re under 50 you must have a debilitating condition or being at least 50 or over with a moderate physical condition. In both cases, you may lose if you have sedentary work experience. Click here to get more information about the rules.
Where Will My Hearing Be Held?
Most hearings will be held by phone, the judge’s clerk will call your phone and place you in a conference call. The whole hearing will be held via conference call, it’s actually very efficient. If you have a lawyer the evidence is submitted electronically before the hearing.
If you don’t have a lawyer you’ll have to bring your evidence to the hearing office or mail it in. You can request an in-person hearing, but we don’t advise it. If you do have a in-person hearing or need to submit evidence, check out the photo above from the SSA hearing office locator website. It shows that Mars PA/Seven Fields Social Security hearings are held at One Adams Place, Suite 200, 300 Seven Fields Boulevard, Mars, PA 16046. You’ll go through the metal detectors – don’t bring any weapons, even a pocket knife, or they won’t let you in. Then check in with the staff and wait to be called for your hearing. If you need to reach the Mars PA Social Security hearing office, also known as the Office of Hearing Operations, call (866) 592-3548.
What should I do if I need help with my hearing?
If you do not have a lawyer yet, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) presiding over your case will almost always give you a postponement to try to get a lawyer. These hearings are very difficult without a lawyer, and the ALJs rarely get the evidence they need unless a lawyer is involved. If you need a Mars PA Social Security Disability lawyer, no matter what stage your case is in, call us or email us and we will evaluate your case for free.