Approval rates
Comparing judicial approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Margaret Craig maintains a 61% approval rate since 2016, which sits within the 31% to 90% range observed among the bench at the Tampa OHO. In the most recent reporting period, her 62% approval rate compares to a 59% office-wide average, a 59% state average, and a 58% national average. These figures are derived from a significant volume of decisions on record, providing a stable statistical baseline.
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 Craig'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 trend for Margaret Craig has shown variation across the 3,194 decisions on record since 2016. After reaching a peak of 68% in 2023, the rate has seen an adjustment, with the most recent fiscal year-to-date period showing a 62% approval rate. This pattern reflects a return toward her long-term average after a period of higher-than-usual allowances.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Craig'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 Tampa OHO hearing office
Margaret Craig's most recent office on record is the Tampa OHO, which serves claimants across Florida. This office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 59%. You can see the Tampa OHO Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tampa OHO
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Tampa OHO, there are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 11 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 90% since 2016.
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
Margaret Craig has an approval rate of 61% since 2016, placing her within the 31% to 90% range of other judges at the Tampa OHO. While her latest-period rate of 62% is slightly above the office average of 59%, every case is unique. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Margaret Craig has fluctuated over time, moving from 56% in 2016 to a high of 68% in 2023, before settling at 62% in the most recent period. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases or evidence presented. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific situation.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain random and impartial. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of which judge is assigned.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Margaret Craig has approved 61% of cases since 2016, but your outcome depends primarily on the medical and vocational evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible before your hearing.
