Approval rates
Judge Cutlar's approval rate is evaluated against the broader context of the Washington Hearing Office and national standards. While your judge's lifetime rate stands at 57%, recent reporting shows a 65% approval rate. These figures are drawn from a significant docket of 15,286 lifetime decisions, providing a baseline for understanding judicial patterns. These rates reflect historical trends rather than the specific merits of your claim.
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 Cutlar'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 9-year tenure, your judge's approval rate has shifted, moving from 74% in 2017 to 67% in 2025. The most recent data indicates a 65% approval rate, which aligns with the steady activity observed since 2023. This pattern suggests that the judge's approach to evidence and testimony has evolved over time, with the latest period reflecting a consistent stance compared to the lifetime average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cutlar'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 Cutlar? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Washington hearing office
The Washington (District of Columbia) Hearing Office serves a diverse population across the region, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an approval rate that reflects the complex nature of the cases heard here. You can expect a formal process where medical evidence is the primary driver of the decision. You can visit the Washington Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Washington office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary, ranging from 33% to 57%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is vital to focus on the strength of your medical documentation and testimony. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge you are 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.