Approval rates
The approval rate for William Andersen is based on 3,241 lifetime decisions. Within the Raleigh hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the 17 judges on record range from 27% to 74%. These figures provide context for your hearing, though they are not a guarantee of your specific outcome.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Andersen. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Andersen'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
Since 2016, William Andersen has maintained a consistent record of approvals. While his yearly approval rate has fluctuated—notably dipping in 2021 before returning to higher levels—the overall volume of 3,241 decisions demonstrates a stable approach to case evaluation. His 2025 approval rate of 80% reflects a continuation of his established decision-making pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Andersen'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 Raleigh hearing office
The Raleigh hearing office serves you throughout North Carolina, operating as a key hub for disability adjudications in the region. With 17 judges on record, the office manages a diverse caseload. You can find the full ALJ roster on the Raleigh Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, with lifetime records spanning from 27% to 74%.
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
William Andersen holds a 74% lifetime approval rate, which sits at the top of the 27% to 74% range seen among the 17 judges on record at the Raleigh office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this office.
Yes, his approval rate has seen shifts since 2016, including a period of lower approvals in 2021 followed by a return to higher rates in 2025. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and how your symptoms limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is organized.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a statistical observation of past performance, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While William Andersen has approved 74% of his 3,241 lifetime decisions, your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a case that clearly demonstrates your disability.