Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. While F. H. Ayer has a 53% lifetime approval rate, recent performance shows a 56% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest figure sits 7 percentage points below the Washington office's latest-period average of 63%. These figures are derived from thousands of cases, providing a statistical baseline for the office.
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 Ayer'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, the decision record for F. H. Ayer has shown shifts in approval frequency. After a period of relative stability in the late 2010s, the approval rate saw an increase in 2023 and 2025 before moderating in the most recent reporting period. With 3,242 total decisions on record, this trend reflects a dynamic approach to evidence evaluation. The latest period suggests a return toward the long-term average following recent fluctuations.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ayer'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 Washington hearing office
The Washington hearing office serves you throughout the District of Columbia and surrounding areas. This office manages a diverse caseload with 19 judges on record, maintaining an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 63%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary factor in the outcome. You can see the Washington Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
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 effectively random. There are 19 judges on record at this office since 2016, 14 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 33% to 85% on a lifetime basis.
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
F. H. Ayer's latest-period approval rate of 56% is 7 percentage points lower than the Washington office's latest-period average of 63%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated, with a notable rise in 2023 and 2025 before settling at 56% in the most recent period. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
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 your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you prepare your case by organizing your medical records and coaching you on what to expect during questioning.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a prediction of your specific outcome. An attorney can help you prepare your case by focusing on the strength of your medical evidence, which is the most critical factor in any disability claim.