Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at both lifetime and recent data. While the lifetime approval rate stands at 50%, the most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 58%. This sits 16 percentage points below the current office average of 66% and 8 points below the national average. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 18,929 lifetime decisions, providing a stable basis for analysis. These aggregate rates reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your 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 Day'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 10-year tenure, approval patterns have shown notable evolution. Early years saw rates in the mid-40% range, followed by growth starting in 2021 where rates climbed toward 59% in 2022. While the 2023 period saw a dip to 50%, the most recent data from 2024 and 2025 indicates a return to higher approval levels. This recent uptick suggests a shift in the decision-making trajectory that may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Day'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.
Have a hearing with Judge Day? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Special Review Cadre hearing office
The Special Review Cadre handles a specialized caseload, serving as a critical component of the national disability adjudication system. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a high volume of hearings. If you are appearing at this office, you should be prepared for rigorous scrutiny of your medical records and work history. You can visit the Special Review Cadre Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Special Review Cadre, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 63%. Because each judge maintains their own approach to evaluating medical evidence and vocational testimony, the specific judge assigned to your hearing is a meaningful variable. Preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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.