Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same time periods to ensure an accurate picture. The 32% approval rate for Martha Bower reflects her total decisions on record since 2016, which you can compare against the 32% to 75% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Providence. This docket size of 1,800 decisions provides a stable baseline for understanding past trends.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Bower. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bower'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 Martha Bower remained steady between 2016 and 2019, hovering between 32% and 34% across her docket. In 2020, the data shows a decline to 26% over 272 decisions. This shift indicates a change in the pattern compared to the previous four years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bower'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
Martha Bower's most recent SSA record (September 2020) is at the Providence hearing office, which serves the state of Rhode Island. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges whose most recent record is at this location. If you are appearing at this office, you should be prepared for a review of your medical evidence, as approval rates across the bench show substantial variance.
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 effectively random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Providence. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 75% since 2016.
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
Martha Bower has a 32% approval rate on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 32% to 75% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Providence. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Martha Bower was steady between 2016 and 2019, generally staying between 32% and 34%. However, the data shows a decline to 26% in 2020. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be ready for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your limitations. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
The 32% approval rate on record for Martha Bower describes her past decisions, not the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your functional limitations. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
