Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing prospects, it is helpful to compare a judge's performance against their peers at the same office. Edward L. Brady's 57% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 27% to 57% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre. In the most recent reporting period, his 55% approval rate outperformed the office average of 45% by 10 percentage points.
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 Brady'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 January 2016, Edward L. Brady has issued 4,037 decisions. His yearly approval trend has shown fluctuations, starting at 60% in 2016 and reaching a high of 64% in 2024 before settling at 55% in the most recent fiscal year to date. This data provides a baseline for understanding how he has historically approached disability claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brady'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 Wilkes Barre hearing office
The Wilkes Barre hearing office is the most recent office on record for 13 judges, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office recorded an office-wide approval rate of 45% in the latest reporting period. You can see the Wilkes Barre hearing office page for more information on the local bench.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre, and 11 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 27% to 57% 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
Edward L. Brady has an approval rate of 57% since 2016, which is at the top of the 27% to 57% range for the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might apply to your specific medical evidence.
Yes, his approval rate has varied over time, ranging from a low of 52% in 2019 and 2020 to a high of 64% in 2024. Most recently, he recorded a 55% approval rate in the latest fiscal year to date. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses these historical patterns.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process effectively random. An attorney can help you focus on the strength of your medical documentation regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your daily limitations and work history by the judge or a vocational expert. An attorney can help you feel more prepared for the questions you will face.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Edward L. Brady has approved 57% of cases since 2016, your individual result depends on the specific evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
