Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Wishnoff, Howard

PHILADELPHIA EASTPennsylvania Stable

+14.2 pts vs national average

71.9%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge71.9%

PHILADELPHIA EAST58.7%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

228

Fully favorable

154

67.5%

Partially favorable

4.4%

Denials

28.1%

Total dispositions

277

Dismissals

17.7%

Awards

164

3-year trend

Stable

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Denied

Fully fav. 67.5%Partially fav. 4.4%Denied 28.1%

Approval rate history

FY2015

0.0%0 dec

FY2016

54.6%227 dec

FY2017

56.5%276 dec

FY2018

59.5%262 dec

FY2019

62.3%353 dec

FY2020

55.1%323 dec

FY2021

58.4%286 dec

FY2022

66.5%260 dec

FY2023

68.4%155 dec

FY2024

63.0%249 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at PHILADELPHIA EAST (5)

Preston, Susan
256 dec72.3%
Grunberg, Hope
3 dec66.7%
Johnson, Jessica Marie
192 dec53.1%
Watson, Nycole
222 dec48.2%
Lazzaro, Michele
386 dec39.9%

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

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