Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Judge Begley's 51% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is evaluated against the 63% office rate, 58% state rate, and 58% national rate for the same period. His record since 2016 shows a 42% approval rate across 3,393 decisions.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Begley'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, Judge Begley has issued 3,393 decisions. His yearly approval rate has fluctuated, showing a general upward trend in recent years. While his approval rate was 40% in 2016, it reached 54% in 2025 and sits at 53% for the partial 2026 fiscal year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Begley'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 Washington hearing office
The Washington hearing office is the most recent office on record for 33 judges. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, the office maintained an approval rate of 63%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the specific medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Washington
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates across the bench vary, with the 14 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 32% to 87% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Begley's 51%. Two of them last decided cases in District of Columbia. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's Philadelphia region.
- 51% Approval rate, last 12 months Andrew M. Emerson
- 53% Approval rate, last 12 months Raghav Kotval
- 51% Approval rate, last 12 months Scott M. Staller
- 51% Approval rate, last 12 months Clary Simmonds
- 51% Approval rate, last 12 months Chad Gendreau
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Begley and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Begley's 51% approval rate is lower than the 63% average for the Washington hearing office. Among the 14 judges in the latest SSA file, approval rates range from 32% to 87%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, Judge Begley's approval rate has shifted over time. Since 2016, his annual approval rate has moved from 40% in 2016 to 53% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence in your file. You will likely testify about your symptoms and limitations, and a vocational expert may provide testimony regarding your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
