Approval rates
Judge Colligan's approval performance is measured against local and national benchmarks. During the most recent reporting period, their approval rate was 16 points above the Pittsburgh office average and 6 points above the national average of 58%. These statistics are derived from a docket of 1,778 lifetime decisions. 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 Colligan'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 two-year tenure, Judge Colligan has established a consistent record of approvals. The data shows a high volume of activity in 2016, followed by a smaller sample in 2017. Because judges handle a diverse range of medical conditions and vocational profiles, these yearly fluctuations are common. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates each claim based on the specific evidence presented in your file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Colligan'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 Colligan? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Pittsburgh hearing office
The Pittsburgh Hearing Office serves a broad population across Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate that reflects the complex nature of the cases heard in this region. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. See the Pittsburgh Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is typically selected at random. Across the Pittsburgh bench, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 28% to 64%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective strategy for your hearing. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned.
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.