Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While the office bench shows a range of 40% to 79% for judges with records since 2016, Debra Bice's 41% approval rate reflects her specific history of 814 decisions. These figures provide a baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached disability claims.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Bice. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Bice isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over one period, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bice'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, Debra Bice has issued 814 decisions. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 58% in 2017, 42% in 2018, 42% in 2019, 32% in 2020, and 50% in 2021. This pattern indicates that your judge's approval frequency has fluctuated over the years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bice'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 NHC St Louis hearing office
Debra Bice's most recent office on record is the NHC St Louis, with decisions there through September 2021. This office serves you and other claimants across the region. You can see the NHC St Louis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC St Louis
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 NHC St Louis, with approval rates ranging from 40% to 79%. Because assignment is outside of your control, understanding the broader bench 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
Debra Bice has an approval rate of 41% based on 814 decisions since 2017. This sits within the 40% to 79% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC St Louis. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows fluctuations in approval rates over time. Starting at 58% in 2017, the rate moved to 42% in 2018 and 2019, before reaching 32% in 2020 and 50% in 2021. An attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot select your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked about your daily activities, work history, and the limitations caused by your condition. An attorney can help you organize your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical documentation is the most important factor in a judge's decision. An attorney can help you review your case to ensure you are as prepared as possible.
