Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While the office bench shows a wide range of outcomes from 32% to 75% on records since 2016, these figures provide context rather than a guarantee for your specific hearing. With 1,951 decisions on record, the data offers a stable look at past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Best. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Best'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 Barry H. Best has shown a steady trajectory across the 1,951 decisions on record since 2016. After starting at 38% in 2016, the rate saw a gradual increase, reaching 47% by 2019 before ending at 43% by the end of the record in 2021. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to case evaluation over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Best'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 Providence hearing office
The Providence hearing office serves you throughout Rhode Island and the surrounding region. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, reflecting a diverse bench with varying approval patterns. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Providence
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Because approval rates vary across this bench—ranging from 32% to 75%—understanding the office environment is helpful.
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
Barry H. Best has an approval rate of 44% on record since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 32% to 75% observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Barry H. Best has remained relatively steady, moving from 38% in 2016 to 43% by the end of the record in 2021. While there were minor fluctuations during this period, the overall pattern indicates consistency. 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 assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to build a strong case is the best way to prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Barry H. Best has approved 44% of the 1,951 cases on record since 2016. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence to ensure your case is as strong as possible regardless of the judge assigned.
