Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Thomas A. Ciccolini based on 2,690 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2021.
Judge Ciccolini 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 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Ciccolini 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 Ciccolini'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
Thomas A. Ciccolini's approval rate shows a clear trend across the 2,690 decisions on record since 2016. The rate was 73% in 2016, 79% in 2017, 84% in 2018, 84% in 2019, 81% in 2020, and 81% in 2021.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ciccolini'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 Akron OH hearing office
The Akron OH Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for 13 judges. You can find the full roster of judges at the Akron OH Hearing Office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Akron OH
Among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Akron OH, the 7 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 43% to 59% on their since-2016 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
Thomas A. Ciccolini's 80% approval rate on record through 2021 is higher than the 43% to 59% range seen among the 7 judges who decided cases at the Akron OH office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Thomas A. Ciccolini was 73% in 2016, 79% in 2017, 84% in 2018, 84% in 2019, 81% in 2020, and 81% in 2021. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. An attorney can help you organize your case and focus your testimony on the criteria for disability.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim.
