Approval rates
Comparing Joseph Bestul's approval rate to his peers provides context for how different judges evaluate claims at the same office. While his 52% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the 41% to 88% range of his colleagues at the Covington GA office, his latest-period approval rate of 56% is 8 percentage points lower than the office's latest-period average of 64%. These figures are derived from thousands of decisions, providing a look at past trends.
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 Bestul'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 2017, Joseph Bestul has issued 3,252 decisions on record. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 84% in 2017, 51% in 2018, 50% in 2019, 46% in 2020, 43% in 2021, 44% in 2022, 51% in 2023, 54% in 2024, 62% in 2025, and 56% in 2026. This pattern shows how your judge's approach has varied over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bestul'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 Covington GA hearing office
The Covington GA office serves as a hub for disability hearings. With 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 64%. You can see the Covington GA Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Covington GA
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 the Covington GA. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 41% to 88% on their since-2016 records.
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
Joseph Bestul's 52% approval rate on record since 2017 falls within the 41% to 88% range of his peers at the Covington GA office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a high of 84% in 2017 to 56% in 2026. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might impact your specific hearing strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Covington GA office. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, working with an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of who is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and medical conditions. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
A judge's approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Joseph Bestul has a 52% approval rate on record since 2017, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
