Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 55% approval rate for Tierney Carlos reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 32% to 79% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore Hearing Office. With 1,680 decisions on record, the data provides a clear view of past trends.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Carlos. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Carlos'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 rate for Tierney Carlos has shown a steady upward trend since 2016. Starting at 43% in 2016, the rate increased to 54% in 2017, 58% in 2018, 59% in 2019, and reached 61% by 2020. This pattern across 1,680 decisions on record since 2016 suggests a consistent evolution in how cases were evaluated over this period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Carlos'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Maryland and the surrounding region. This office features a bench of 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where the quality of your medical documentation remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore Hearing Office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 79% on their since-2016 records. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence.
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
Tierney Carlos has an approval rate of 55% based on 1,680 decisions on record since 2016. This falls within the 32% to 79% range of approval rates seen among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Tierney Carlos has trended upward over the years. It moved from 43% in 2016 to 61% by 2020 across the 1,680 decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these past trends might relate to your upcoming hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Tierney Carlos has a 55% approval rate on record since 2016, your success depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for the judge's review.
