Approval rates
The approval rate for Sara L. Alston is calculated based on 507 decisions on record since 2016. This figure represents the total volume of cases decided by the judge during that period. These rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
Judge Alston 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 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Alston 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 Alston'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
Sara L. Alston's record spans from 2016 through 2017, encompassing 507 total decisions. The approval rate was 89% in 2016 and 96% in 2017. The data shows the approval rate rose between these two periods.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Alston'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 Baltimore hearing office
The NHC Baltimore hearing office serves you in the Maryland region. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal process where the quality of medical evidence is the primary factor in your outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Baltimore
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Baltimore, 3 judges decided cases in the most recent SSA file, with approval rates ranging from 46% to 55% on their records since 2016.
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
Sara L. Alston has a 90% approval rate on record since 2016. This is higher than the 46% to 55% range seen among the 3 judges at this office who appear in the most recent SSA file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case preparation.
The approval rate for Sara L. Alston was 89% in 2016 and 96% in 2017. This reflects a rise in the approval rate across the 507 decisions on record. An attorney can help you evaluate your case in light of these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a random workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and functional limitations. An attorney can help you organize your evidence effectively for this process.
The 90% approval rate for Sara L. Alston is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you determine if your case meets the requirements for a favorable decision.
