Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for John R. Allen alongside the broader performance of the bench at the NHC Falls Church. These figures are based on 790 decisions on record since 2016. The range of 33% to 85% reflects the performance of the 14 judges currently active in the latest SSA file.
Judge Allen is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Allen isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Allen's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
John R. Allen's approval rate fluctuated across the 790 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2020. The rate began at 64% in 2016 before shifting to 54% in 2017. In the following years, the approval rate moved to 46% in 2018 and 42% in 2019, concluding at 32% in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Allen's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the NHC Falls Church hearing office
The NHC Falls Church serves you in the District of Columbia and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 33 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where your evidence is reviewed against federal disability criteria.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Falls Church
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 33 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Falls Church, 14 judges decided cases here in SSA's latest file and range from 33% to 85% on their since-2016 records.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
John R. Allen's 43% approval rate on record through 2020 sits within the 33% to 85% range established by the 14 judges who decided cases at this office in the latest SSA file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for John R. Allen showed a downward trend from 64% in 2016 to 32% in 2020. An attorney can help you understand how your medical evidence supports your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
