Approval rates
The 37% approval rate for John W. Belcher reflects his total decisions on record since 2016. You can compare this against the 37% to 81% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa. This range provides context for how different judges evaluate claims within the same office environment.
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 approval rate for John W. Belcher shows a downward trend across the data window starting in 2016. The judge recorded a 43% approval rate in 2016, which shifted to 32% in 2017 and 30% by 2018. With 806 total decisions on record, these figures represent a consistent pattern of evaluation over the observed period.
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
John W. Belcher's most recent office on record is the Tulsa hearing office, with decisions there through September 2018. This office serves you and other claimants across Oklahoma. With 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa, the office handles a diverse range of disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa, and their approval rates since 2016 range from 37% to 81%. This variance highlights why understanding the specific bench at your hearing office is useful for your preparation.
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 37% approval rate on record since 2016. This is at the bottom of the 37% to 81% range established by the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a decline in approval rates over the period from 2016 to 2018. The rate moved from 43% in 2016 to 30% by 2018 across 806 total decisions. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. 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.
The 37% approval rate for John W. Belcher is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a favorable outcome. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
