Approval rates
Understanding how a judge compares to their peers requires looking at lifetime performance metrics. At the Tulsa hearing office, the 15 judges on record since 2016 show a wide range of approval outcomes, spanning from 37% to 81%. Reviewing these figures helps you understand the environment of your upcoming hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Belcher. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Belcher'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 John W. Belcher spans from 2016 to 2018, covering 806 lifetime decisions. During this period, the approval rate moved from 43% in 2016 to 30% by 2018. These trends reflect changes in the types of cases heard or the evidence presented during that window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Belcher'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 Tulsa hearing office
The Tulsa hearing office serves you if you are in Oklahoma and the surrounding region. With a bench of 15 judges on record, this office manages a high volume of disability claims. You can expect a formal legal process where evidence quality is the primary driver of success. You can see the Tulsa 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 you cannot choose your judge. There are 15 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the latest SSA period. Because approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 37% to 81%, your specific assignment is a factor in your case.
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
John W. Belcher has a lifetime approval rate of 37%. This sits at the lower end of the range for the 15 judges on record at the Tulsa office, who vary from 37% to 81% in their lifetime approval rates. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a decline in approval rates during the 2016 to 2018 record window. The rate moved from 43% in 2016 down to 30% in 2018. 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. Since you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence with an attorney is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a historical statistic, not a prediction of your specific outcome. While John W. Belcher has a 37% lifetime approval rate, every case is decided on its own merits and the quality of the evidence provided. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing.