Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Kovac, Paul

PITTSBURGHPennsylvania Trending up

-14.1 pts vs national average

43.6%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge43.6%

PITTSBURGH49.4%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

307

Fully favorable

119

38.8%

Partially favorable

4.9%

Denials

173

56.4%

Total dispositions

374

Dismissals

17.9%

Awards

134

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Denied

Fully fav. 38.8%Partially fav. 4.9%Denied 56.4%

Approval rate history

FY2018

33.0%97 dec

FY2019

35.8%422 dec

FY2020

37.4%305 dec

FY2021

39.9%283 dec

FY2022

40.4%245 dec

FY2023

47.0%219 dec

FY2024

49.9%333 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at PITTSBURGH (6)

Hostovich, Julianne
195 dec63.1%
Papazekos, Joanna
241 dec62.2%
Ehasz, Sarah
296 dec57.1%
Kaczmarek, Michael
246 dec52.0%
Bareford, Christian
306 dec39.2%
Perry-Dowdell, Leslie
174 dec28.2%

Judges in Pennsylvania with the most decisions

Powers, Erin
JOHNSTOWN443 dec
Guida, Richard
HARRISBURG414 dec
Kleeb, Kelli J.
SEVEN FIELDS410 dec
Kooser, John
SEVEN FIELDS403 dec
Kauffman, Howard
HARRISBURG401 dec

Next step

Estimate approval odds

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