Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure the data remains meaningful. While the 52% approval rate covers all 2,686 decisions on record since 2017, the Greenville office bench shows a wide variance, with individual judge rates ranging from 35% to 72% over the same period. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the office's historical output.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Cumbie. The most recent period with decisions on record is July 31, 2026. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cumbie'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 James Cumbie has shown fluctuation since 2017. After an initial period, the data indicates an upward trend in recent years, with approval rates reaching 77% in 2025. This shift represents a departure from the lower rates observed in the middle of the record window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cumbie'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 Greenville hearing office
James Cumbie's most recent office on record is the Greenville hearing office. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 66%. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Greenville
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Greenville office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 35% to 72% 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
James Cumbie has an approval rate of 52% across 2,686 decisions on record since 2017. This sits within the 35% to 72% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Greenville office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. After recording a 65% approval rate in 2017, the rate fluctuated before rising to 77% in 2025. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert testify before the judge. The judge reviews your medical records and asks questions to determine your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to present the strongest possible case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the medical evidence and your ability to prove you meet SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence against the standards typically applied in these hearings.
