Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Charles Bridges based on 1,162 total decisions on record since 2016. These figures provide a statistical view of past performance, which can be compared against the range of other judges who have decided cases at the Harrisburg office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
Judge Bridges is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Bridges isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bridges'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
Charles Bridges decided 1,162 cases between 2016 and 2022. The annual approval percentages were 86% in 2016, 89% in 2017, 83% in 2018, 82% in 2019, 87% in 2020, 89% in 2021, and 95% in 2022. This data reflects the total volume of decisions made during that timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bridges'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 Harrisburg hearing office
The Harrisburg hearing office serves you and other claimants across Pennsylvania. This office has a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Harrisburg hearing office page for the full roster of judges.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Harrisburg
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the Harrisburg bench, with the 5 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 29% to 64% on their since-2016 records. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, though only 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Charles Bridges has an 86% approval rate on record through 2022. This sits above the 29% to 64% range seen among the 5 judges currently active in the latest SSA file at the Harrisburg office. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your hearing strategy.
Charles Bridges maintained a high approval rate throughout his time on record, starting at 86% in 2016 and reaching 95% by 2022. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific judge you are assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide to support your claim. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible before your hearing date.
