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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 · Louisiana

New Orleans Social Security Hearing Office

The New Orleans Hearing Office is at Suite 800, 1515 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 and its phone number is (888) 297-2210. Cases here take about 9.0 months on average (FY 2026 through July 31, 2026), slower than the national average. Its judges approved 49% of decided cases in FY 2026.

Address, phone and hours

AddressSuite 800, 1515 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone(888) 297-2210
Fax(833) 635-0632
eFile fax(877) 559-1922 (for sending evidence)
Mailing addressPO Box 8942, London, KY 40742-9575
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 Louisiana.

How long is the wait at the New Orleans hearing office?

Average processing time275 daysabout 9.0 months · FY 2026 through July 31, 2026
National average261 daysabout 8.6 months
Rank (1 = fastest)113 of 158hearing offices
Wait until hearing is held9.5 monthsJuly 2026
Cases pending1,737as 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 New Orleans Hearing Office it is currently slower than 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 New Orleans hearing office and approval rates

These are the administrative law judges (ALJs) listed for New Orleans 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 49%, against 58% nationally.

JudgeDecisionsApprovedRate
Monica J Anderson36044%
Jim Fraiser34143%
Christopher H. Juge33059%
Jeffery Morgan32146%
Louis J Volz6085%
John M. Dowling1—

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

Which field offices send cases to New Orleans Hearing Office?

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

LOUISIANA: DeRidder, Houma, Lake Charles, Morgan City, New Orleans (Downtown), New Orleans (West Bank), St. Tammany (Lacombe)

If your local office is not listed, your hearing is handled elsewhere: check the Louisiana 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 Louisiana are made by the Disability Determination Services. Full walkthrough: how to appeal a disability denial and what happens at the hearing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the phone number of the New Orleans hearing office?

The New Orleans Hearing Office phone number is (888) 297-2210. Fax: (833) 635-0632.

Where is the New Orleans Social Security hearing office?

New Orleans Hearing Office is located at Suite 800, 1515 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70112.

How long is the wait for a disability hearing in New Orleans?

According to SSA data for FY 2026 through July 31, 2026, the average processing time at New Orleans Hearing Office is 275 days (about 9.0 months), slower than the national average of 261 days.

What is the approval rate at the New Orleans hearing office?

In FY 2026, judges at New Orleans Hearing Office approved 49% 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 Louisiana DDS?

No. The Disability Determination Services (DDS) makes the initial and reconsideration decisions. The hearing office handles the next step, the hearing before an administrative law judge.