Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure the data is meaningful. While Joseph L. Brinkley has an approval rate of 55% across all 4,405 decisions on record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 61%. This latest-period figure aligns with the Raleigh office average of 61%, while sitting 4 percentage points below the state average of 65% and 3 points above the national average of 58%. These figures provide a sample for analysis, though aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than 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 Brinkley'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 2016, the decision pattern for Joseph L. Brinkley has shown a shift in approval frequency. After starting with a 43% approval rate in 2016, the annual figures have trended to 61% in the most recent fiscal year to date. This pattern reflects a consistent approach to evaluating evidence over the last decade. The latest-period approval rate of 61% remains consistent with the broader trend observed in recent years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brinkley'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 Raleigh hearing office
The Raleigh hearing office serves you and other claimants across North Carolina. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Raleigh
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 10 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 27% to 74% on their since-2016 records, highlighting the variation that can exist within a single office.
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
Joseph L. Brinkley has an approval rate of 55% on record since 2016. Across the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Raleigh office, approval rates range from 27% to 74%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Joseph L. Brinkley has trended over the last decade. Starting at 43% in 2016, the rate is 61% in the most recent fiscal year to date. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence of your disability. You will likely be asked questions about your work history, medical treatment, and daily limitations by the judge and potentially a vocational expert. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Joseph L. Brinkley has approved 55% of the 4,405 decisions on record since 2016, but your case is decided based on its own unique evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim and prepare for your hearing.
