Approval rates
The 47% approval rate for Patricia Carey reflects all 3,973 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 30% to 77% range observed among the bench at the Toledo OH office. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 48% approval rate compares to the office's 54% rate, the state's 55% rate, and the 58% national average.
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 Carey'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
The approval trend for Patricia Carey has varied across the 3,973 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of steady activity, the data shows an upward trend in approvals between 2023 and 2025, followed by a 49% approval rate in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date figures. The latest period approval rate of 48% remains consistent with the historical average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Carey'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 Toledo OH hearing office
The Toledo OH hearing office maintains a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 54%, this office handles a high volume of disability claims. You can see the Toledo OH Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Toledo OH
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Toledo OH office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 30% to 77% since 2016.
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
Patricia Carey has an approval rate of 47% across 3,973 decisions on record since 2016. This places the judge within the 30% to 77% range of approval rates for the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Toledo OH office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Patricia Carey has fluctuated over the years. While the rate was 41% in 2017, it reached 54% in 2025 before settling at 49% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. Working with an attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence effectively.
A judge's approval rate is a summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your claim before your hearing date.
