It isn’t easy to get an approval on a Social Security disability claim in Virginia. A full 63.2% of initial disability claims are denied in Virginia, leaving the claimant with the unenviable choice of dropping their disability claim and being dependent on others or going through a long and drawn out appeals process. 85% of requests for reconsideration also meet with denials in Virginia. The best chance claimants have of having a disability claim approved in Virginia is during the claimant’s hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). This hearing follows the initial claim and request for reconsideration. There are four hearing offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk, and Charlottesville.
Virginia has a 53.6% award rate in its hearing offices, considerably lower than the 58% national average. On average, disabled persons in Virginia can expect to wait 344 days for their hearing before an ALJ. Clearly, this makes it all the more important to make sure that you are ready to present a strong case during your hearing. The approval ratings and wait times vary considerably from office to office. Here’s how they break.
| Hearing Office | Approval Rate | Processing Time in Days |
| Richmond | 38.0% | 362 |
| Roanoke | 54.9% | 432 |
| Norfolk | 47.5% | 286 |
| Charlottesville | 39.5% | 295 |
There are a total of 33 administrative law judges assigned to handle all of the hearings in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Of these, eleven are in Richmond, seven are in Charlotte, six are in Norfolk, and nine are in Roanoke. Because ALJs are given more latitude in making their decisions than other representatives of the Social Security Administration, each ALJ has distinct tendencies. Local Social Security disability lawyers will be familiar with each of the ALJs in their area, and will know what kinds of evidence the judge is going to need to see before they are likely to approve your disability claim. click on the city closest to you below, for more information on hiring an attorney in your area:
- Alexandria
- Arlington
- Centreville
- Chesapeake
- Dale City
- Hampton
- Newport News
- Norfolk
- Richmond
- Roanoke
- Suffolk
- Virginia Beach
If you choose to be represented by a Social Security lawyer, you will not have to pay their fees up front. Social Security lawyers only collect if they are able to help you gain approval for your Social Security disability claim. Their fee is generally paid directly by the SSA as a percentage of the back pay to which you are entitled. To start the process with a free initial consultation with a local Social Security disability lawyer, all you need to do is complete the form on this web site.
