Approval rates
Comparing your judge's 76% approval rate to the broader bench provides context for how cases are handled in this region. While your judge's overall record is 76%, the latest-period approval rate of 69% sits 7 points above the Columbia SC office average of 62%. These figures rely on a volume of 1,251 decisions on record since 2023. 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 Bumgarner'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 February 2023, your judge's approval rate has shown variability. The rate was 84% in 2023, 75% in 2024, 79% in 2025, and 71% in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. This pattern reflects activity across the 1,251 decisions on record. The recent shift in the latest period reflects a departure from the long-term average, which may be influenced by changes in case complexity or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bumgarner'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 Columbia SC hearing office
The Columbia SC hearing office serves you throughout South Carolina. This office is home to 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 62%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Columbia SC Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Columbia SC
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Columbia SC office. Approval rates among this bench range from 50% to 81% on their records. You can find more information on the Columbia SC hearing office page.
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
Your judge's 76% approval rate since 2023 is positioned within the 50% to 81% range observed among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Columbia SC office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific judge's bench.
The approval rate has fluctuated, starting at 84% in 2023 and moving to 71% in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. These variations are common in SSDI hearings, and an attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. Having a qualified attorney can help you present your evidence clearly and effectively to the judge.
The 76% approval rate on record since 2023 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Every case is unique, and an attorney can help you build a strong argument tailored to the evidence required for approval.
