Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 36% approval rate for Paula F. Atchison reflects her total decisions on record since 2017, which can be measured against the 32% to 78% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Phoenix Downtown. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically decided cases. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Atchison. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Atchison'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 approval rate for Paula F. Atchison has shown a shift over the 1,884 decisions on record since 2017. After a period of decline between 2017 and 2021, the data shows an upward trend in recent years, with approval rates reaching 46% in 2023 and 46% in 2024. This pattern suggests that recent decisions have diverged from the earlier, lower averages. This trend may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented in recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Atchison'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 Downtown hearing office
Paula F. Atchison's most recent office on record is the Phoenix Downtown hearing office, which serves you if you are in Arizona. With 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, you can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Phoenix Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Phoenix Downtown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Phoenix Downtown hearing office. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 78% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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
Paula F. Atchison has a 36% approval rate on record since 2017. This sits within the 32% to 78% range of approval rates for the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Phoenix Downtown hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a shift in the approval rate for Paula F. Atchison. While the rate was 38% in 2017, it trended downward to 29% in 2021 before rising to 46% in 2023 and 46% in 2024. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs, making the process random. Because you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and often a vocational expert or medical expert will discuss your ability to work. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
