Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. While Daniel Balutis has a 27% lifetime approval rate, his latest-period approval rate of 29% sits 16 points below the current 45% average for the Wilkes Barre office. These figures are based on a docket of 3,301 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 Balutis'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 record for Daniel Balutis, spanning from 2016 to 2026, shows a consistent decision pattern. After an initial period of higher approvals in 2016, the rate stabilized and has remained steady in recent years. The latest-period approval rate of 29% aligns with this long-term trend, suggesting a predictable approach to case evaluation. This consistency helps in understanding how evidence is typically weighed in his courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Balutis'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 Wilkes Barre hearing office
The Wilkes Barre hearing office serves you throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. With a bench of 13 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 45%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Wilkes Barre 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 essentially random. The Wilkes Barre office features 13 judges on record since 2016, 11 of whom are reported in the latest SSA data. These judges have a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 27% to 57%. 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
Daniel Balutis has a lifetime approval rate of 27%, which sits at the lower end of the 27% to 57% range observed among the 13 judges on record at the Wilkes Barre office. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific judge.
The approval rate for Daniel Balutis has remained steady over his record since 2016, with his latest-period rate of 29% consistent with his long-term average. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim.
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 to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears 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 evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.