Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Businger, Thomas

PHOENIX NORTHArizona Stable

-4.0 pts vs national average

53.7%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge53.7%

PHOENIX NORTH58.7%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

Fully favorable

41.8%

Partially favorable

11.9%

Denials

46.3%

Total dispositions

Dismissals

16.3%

Awards

3-year trend

Stable

FY2026 decision breakdown

Denied

Fully fav. 41.8%Partially fav. 11.9%Denied 46.3%

Approval rate history

FY2018

47.7%197 dec

FY2019

50.0%406 dec

FY2020

51.0%316 dec

FY2021

50.6%344 dec

FY2022

48.9%260 dec

FY2023

50.8%197 dec

FY2024

49.5%281 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at PHOENIX NORTH (5)

Suing, Timothy
22 dec77.3%
Armbruster, Ted
257 dec75.9%
Elias, Yasmin
51 dec58.8%
Walls, Kelly
261 dec52.1%
Bucci, Patricia A
64 dec34.4%

Judges in Arizona with the most decisions

Gaffney, John
PHOENIX DOWNTOWN381 dec
Davis, Charles
TUCSON329 dec
Johnson, Larry E
TUCSON290 dec
Waters, Carla L
PHOENIX DOWNTOWN264 dec
Alegre, Dante M.
PHOENIX DOWNTOWN253 dec

Next step

Estimate approval odds

See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.