Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period. While Thomas D. Businger has a 50% approval rate since 2018, his latest-period approval rate is 54%, which is 6 points below the Phoenix North office average of 60%. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from 2,340 decisions on record. 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 Businger'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 2018, Thomas D. Businger has maintained a steady approval pattern. While his yearly approval rate has fluctuated between 48% and 54%, the overall volume of 2,340 decisions on record suggests a consistent approach to case evaluation. The latest period shows a slight increase in approvals compared to the prior year, which remains within the historical range of his decision-making.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Businger'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 Phoenix North hearing office
Thomas D. Businger's most recent office on record is the Phoenix North hearing office, which serves you in Arizona. This office maintains a bench of 12 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 60%. You can expect a standardized hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Phoenix North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Phoenix North
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Phoenix North office, with 5 of them having decided cases in the latest file. Approval rates across this bench range from 28% to 72% on their records.
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
Thomas D. Businger's latest-period approval rate of 54% is 6 points lower than the Phoenix North office average of 60%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
His approval rate has remained steady since 2018, starting at 48% and reaching 54% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This 50% average across 2,340 decisions on record indicates a consistent approach over time. An attorney can help you understand how your case fits into these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Phoenix North office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing typically involves testimony from you and potentially a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform work. Because outcomes depend heavily on the quality of your medical evidence, an attorney can help you organize your records for the hearing.
