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Independent guide built from public SSA data. Not affiliated with the Social Security Administration. Apply, appeal and check your case only on ssa.gov.

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Office of Hearings Operations · Ohio

Columbus Social Security Hearing Office

The Columbus Hearing Office is at Suite 400, 401 N. Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215 and its phone number is (888) 397-6870. Cases here take about 8.6 months on average (FY 2026 through July 31, 2026), close to the national average. Its judges approved 63% of decided cases in FY 2026.

Address, phone and hours

AddressSuite 400, 401 N. Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone(888) 397-6870
Fax(833) 559-0768
eFile fax(877) 486-2935 (for sending evidence)
Mailing addressPO Box 8868, London, KY 40742-9684
Hours8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This office holds hearings before administrative law judges. It does not issue Social Security cards or take new benefit applications: for that, visit your local Social Security field office in Ohio.

How long is the wait at the Columbus hearing office?

Average processing time262 daysabout 8.6 months · FY 2026 through July 31, 2026
National average261 daysabout 8.6 months
Rank (1 = fastest)91 of 158hearing offices
Wait until hearing is held8 monthsJuly 2026
Cases pending2,049as of July 31, 2026

SSA measures average processing time as the number of days from the hearing request to the final disposition, for all cases completed at each hearing office in the reporting period. The national figure shown here is the average across offices weighted by their dispositions. At Columbus Hearing Office it is currently close to the national average. Your own case can move faster or slower depending on when you filed, whether more medical evidence is needed and the judge's calendar. See how every office compares in hearing wait times by office.

Judges at the Columbus hearing office and approval rates

These are the administrative law judges (ALJs) listed for Columbus Hearing Office in SSA's FY 2026 disposition data. The approval rate is the share of decisions that were fully or partially favorable; dismissals are not counted as decisions. The office average was 63%, against 58% nationally.

JudgeDecisionsApprovedRate
Jason P. Tepley34657%
Kimberly Cromer30873%
Matthew Winfrey28568%
Jeffrey Hartranft28464%
Jeannine Lesperance19252%
Thomas Wang17557%

Judges with fewer than 20 decisions are listed without a rate. How to read these numbers.

Which field offices send cases to Columbus Hearing Office?

According to SSA, Columbus Hearing Office handles hearings for people served by these Social Security field offices:

OHIO: Chillicothe, Columbus (Downtown), Columbus (East), Columbus (North), Columbus (West), Lancaster, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, Zanesville

If your local office is not listed, your hearing is handled elsewhere: check the Ohio hearing offices.

How to request a hearing at this office

  1. Your claim must first be denied at reconsideration.
  2. Request the hearing within 60 days of receiving the reconsideration denial (SSA presumes you received it 5 days after the date on the letter), online at ssa.gov or with form HA-501.
  3. The hearing office acknowledges your request and sends a notice about the ways to attend: in person, by video or by phone.
  4. You receive the Notice of Hearing at least 75 days before the hearing date.
  5. Send any remaining evidence at least 5 business days before the hearing. What happens at the hearing.

The previous decisions in Ohio are made by the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. Full walkthrough: how to appeal a disability denial and what happens at the hearing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the phone number of the Columbus hearing office?

The Columbus Hearing Office phone number is (888) 397-6870. Fax: (833) 559-0768.

Where is the Columbus Social Security hearing office?

Columbus Hearing Office is located at Suite 400, 401 N. Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215.

How long is the wait for a disability hearing in Columbus?

According to SSA data for FY 2026 through July 31, 2026, the average processing time at Columbus Hearing Office is 262 days (about 8.6 months), close to the national average of 261 days.

What is the approval rate at the Columbus hearing office?

In FY 2026, judges at Columbus Hearing Office approved 63% of the cases they decided (fully or partially favorable), versus 58% nationally.

Can I have my hearing by phone or video?

Yes. SSA offers hearings in person, by agency video, by online video (Microsoft Teams, only if you agree on form HA-56) and by phone. You can tell the hearing office which option you prefer.

Is this the same as the Ohio DDS?

No. The Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (DDS) makes the initial and reconsideration decisions. The hearing office handles the next step, the hearing before an administrative law judge.