Approval rates
The approval rate for Ethan A. Chase is calculated based on 3,074 decisions issued between 2016 and 2025. The 5 judges currently active at this office in SSA's latest file show a range of 17% to 68% on their records since 2016. These figures reflect historical patterns rather than current trends.
Judge Chase is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Chase isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Chase'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
Ethan A. Chase has issued 3,074 decisions on record since 2016. The yearly approval rate has fluctuated, starting at 60% in 2016 and reaching 53% by 2025. The most recent 150 decisions in 2025 indicate the rate has held steady compared to the overall record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Chase'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 Charleston SC hearing office
The Charleston SC hearing office is the most recent office on record for Ethan A. Chase as of September 2025. This office has 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 5 of them having decided cases in SSA's latest file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the office's bench, with the 5 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 17% to 68% on their since-2016 records. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 5 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Ethan A. Chase has a 53% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 17% to 68% observed among the 5 judges who decided cases at the Charleston SC office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these figures may relate to your specific case.
The approval rate for Ethan A. Chase has fluctuated over the years, beginning at 60% in 2016 and ending at 53% in 2025. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for any judge you are assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your ability to meet the SSA's definition of disability are the primary factors in any decision. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
