Approval rates
Judge Brash has maintained a consistent presence on the bench over the last 6 years. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate was 47%, which is 1 percentage point below the local office average and 11 points below the national average. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 11,236 lifetime decisions, providing a clear view of his historical decision-making patterns. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Brash'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
Over his 6-year tenure, Judge Brash has seen his approval rate fluctuate, starting at 44% in 2016 and reaching a high of 53% in 2017. Following these years, the rate experienced a period of adjustment before settling near the current lifetime average. The data indicates that his decision-making has remained relatively steady, reflecting a consistent approach to the evidence presented in your disability claim. Recent periods show a continuation of this balanced pattern, suggesting that the judge maintains a predictable standard for evaluating eligibility.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brash'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.
Hearing with Judge Brash? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Pittsburgh hearing office
The Pittsburgh Hearing Office serves a large population across Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 48%, reflecting the complex nature of the cases reviewed in this region. You can expect a professional environment where thorough documentation is essential for a successful outcome. You can visit the Pittsburgh Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Pittsburgh Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges who exhibit a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 28% to 57%. Because of this variance, the specific judge you draw can influence the procedural flow of your hearing. You can review the full office roster on the Pittsburgh Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.