Approval rates
Evaluating the approval rate of Brady Carter requires looking at the data in context. The 60% approval rate on record since 2023 provides a baseline, while the latest-period approval rate of 69% shows recent activity. These figures are compared against the Elkins Park bench, where judges range from 45% to 82% in their approval rates. Because the docket includes 1,291 decisions, these trends offer a stable view of past performance.
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
The approval rate for Brady Carter has shown a consistent upward trend since 2023. Starting at 50% in 2023, the rate increased to 55% in 2024 and 61% in 2025, reaching 69% during the partial 2026 fiscal year. With 1,291 total decisions on record, this pattern reflects a steady shift in outcomes over the last few years. The latest period shows a rate 8 points higher than the Elkins Park office average, 15 points higher than the state average, and 11 points higher than the national average.
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.
About the Elkins Park hearing office
Brady Carter's most recent office on record is the Elkins Park hearing office. This office is home to a bench of 24 judges who handle a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Elkins Park
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 Elkins Park, and 10 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 45% to 82% 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
Brady Carter has an approval rate of 69% in the latest reporting period, which is 8 percentage points higher than the Elkins Park office average of 61%. While this indicates a higher rate of favorable decisions recently, every case is unique. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Brady Carter has trended upward, moving from 50% in 2023 to 69% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This reflects a consistent pattern of change over the 1,291 decisions on record. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
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. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have an attorney who can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Brady Carter's 60% rate since 2023 is one data point, but the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and prepare for your hearing.
