Approval rates
Judge Carter's 58% lifetime approval rate is based on 5,410 decisions over 3 years on the bench. In the most recent reporting period, the judge reached a 66% approval rate, which sits 2 points below the current office average but 3 points above the state average. These figures provide a statistical look at how cases have been resolved historically. 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 Carter'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
Over a 3-year tenure, your approval trend for Judge Carter has shown a steady upward trajectory, moving from 56% in 2023 to 60% in 2025. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence as the judge has gained experience on the bench. While the latest period shows a 66% approval rate, this reflects a continuation of the judge's established decision-making style. The recent uptick may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented in the courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Carter'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.
Hearing with Judge Carter? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park Hearing Office serves a significant population in Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of SSDI claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports a 60% latest approval rate, reflecting the regional environment for disability adjudication. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Elkins Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Elkins Park office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 50% to 71%. While these variations exist, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent regardless of which judge presides over your hearing. You can find more information on the Elkins Park Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.