Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Hajjar, Joseph

CLEVELANDOhio Trending up

-35.2 pts vs national average

22.5%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge22.5%

CLEVELAND51.1%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

360

Fully favorable

19.7%

Partially favorable

2.8%

Denials

279

77.5%

Total dispositions

433

Dismissals

16.9%

Awards

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Denied

Fully fav. 19.7%Partially fav. 2.8%Denied 77.5%

Approval rate history

FY2015

42.9%98 dec

FY2016

29.0%362 dec

FY2017

33.3%324 dec

FY2018

26.8%407 dec

FY2019

31.1%411 dec

FY2020

29.7%340 dec

FY2021

28.2%255 dec

FY2022

25.6%207 dec

FY2023

36.6%175 dec

FY2024

33.0%273 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at CLEVELAND (10)

Aliberti, Louis
329 dec78.1%
Hixson, Traci M
356 dec69.7%
Rose, Joseph
232 dec63.8%
Budney, Amy
306 dec61.1%
Adamo, Genevieve
351 dec58.7%
Leland, William
365 dec56.4%
Westley, Eric
358 dec55.0%
Kearney, Keith
389 dec55.0%
Loucas, Penny
358 dec33.5%
Ma, Catherine
305 dec8.5%

Judges in Ohio with the most decisions

Shinn, Charles
AKRON OH416 dec
Balter, Michael
AKRON OH408 dec
Schmitz, Michael F.
AKRON OH402 dec
Ashford, Earl
TOLEDO OH397 dec
Jacques, Meredith
TOLEDO OH395 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.