Approval rates
The Charlotte hearing office features a bench with lifetime approval rates ranging from 29% to 83%. In the latest reporting period, Judge Asseff approved 89% of cases, which sits 18 percentage points above the office-wide latest-period average of 71%. These figures are derived from a docket of 3,041 lifetime decisions. 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
Since 2017, the approval trend for Judge Asseff has shown a shift. After a period of stability in the 76% to 79% range, his approval rate climbed to 89% in the most recent reporting period. This recent performance reflects a pattern of allowance that diverges from his earlier career averages. These trends provide context for the current decision-making environment.
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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Charlotte hearing office
The Charlotte hearing office serves you throughout North Carolina and the surrounding region. With 18 judges on record, the office maintains a complex docket that requires careful evidentiary preparation. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 71%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Charlotte office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment is essentially random. There are 18 judges on record at this office since 2016, with 9 currently reporting in the latest SSA data. Because approval rates across the bench vary significantly, understanding the office-wide context is vital. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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 Asseff's latest-period approval rate of 89% is 18 percentage points higher than the Charlotte office's latest-period average of 71%. While this suggests a higher allowance rate, your case depends on the specific medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence meets the standards expected in this office.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend in recent years. After maintaining approval rates between 76% and 79% from 2018 through 2022, his rate increased to 89% in the most recent period. An attorney can help you understand how these shifts might impact your case strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your medical file.
A judge's lifetime approval rate of 83% is a historical statistic, not a prediction of your outcome. It reflects the judge's past decisions, but your case will be decided based on the unique evidence you present. An attorney can help you build a case that addresses the specific requirements of your hearing.