Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the judge maintains a 62% approval rate across all decisions since 2016, recent data shows a 76% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period performance sits 16 points above the Phoenix North office average of 60%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a look at past decision-making trends.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Armbruster'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
The judge's approval rate has shown a consistent upward trend since 2016. Starting at 52% in 2016, the rate gradually increased, reaching 76% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. This pattern reflects a shift in outcomes over the last decade, with the latest period continuing this steady increase.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Armbruster'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 Phoenix North hearing office
Ted W. Armbruster's most recent office on record is the Phoenix North hearing office, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves claimants in the Arizona region and maintains a bench of 12 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 60%, you can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Phoenix North
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Phoenix North office. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 72% 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
Judge Armbruster's latest-period approval rate of 76% is 16 percentage points higher than the Phoenix North office average of 60%. Because cases are assigned randomly, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the judge's approval rate has trended upward over the last decade. It began at 52% in 2016 and has risen to 76% in the most recent partial year of data. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. An attorney can help you prepare your case effectively regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. While Judge Armbruster has approved 62% of cases since 2016, your specific result depends on your medical evidence and vocational factors. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
