Approval rates
Judge Asseff maintains an approval rate that outpaces regional and national benchmarks. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate reached 91%, which is 24 percentage points higher than the national average of 58%. With a docket spanning 16,367 lifetime decisions, the data offers a view of his decision-making history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Asseff'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
Over his 9 years on the bench, Judge Asseff has shown an upward trend in approval rates. After a period of stability between 2018 and 2022, his approval frequency has climbed, reaching 93% in 2025. This recent performance represents a shift from his earlier years, where rates hovered in the high 70s. This pattern reflects his approach to evaluating evidence, though the recent uptick may be influenced by changes in case mix or the quality of evidence presented in recent filings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Asseff'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.
Hearing with Judge Asseff? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Charlotte hearing office
The Charlotte Hearing Office serves a large population across North Carolina, managing a volume of disability claims with a team of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate that reflects the nature of the cases heard in this region. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Charlotte Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your specific assignment is random. Within the Charlotte office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 82%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. You can find more information on the Charlotte hearing office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.