Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context on how a judge's recent decisions align with broader trends at the same hearing office. William P. Diggs's 67% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is measured against the 49% office average, 60% state average, and 58% national average for that same period. These figures are derived from a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable statistical baseline. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Diggs'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
Across 3,604 decisions on record since June 2017, William P. Diggs has maintained an overall approval rate of 68%. The yearly trend shows a period of rising approvals between 2022 and 2023, followed by a shift in the most recent data. The 67% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, sits below the peak seen in 2023 but remains consistent with the long-term record. The most recent 12 months continue this steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Diggs'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 Charleston SC hearing office
The Charleston SC Hearing Office serves you across the region. As of the most recent record in July 2026, this office is associated with 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, the office maintained an approval rate of 49%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the evidence provided in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 5 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 15% to 67% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Diggs's 67%. All five last decided cases in South Carolina.
- 67% Approval rate, last 12 months James M. Martin
- 67% Approval rate, last 12 months Christopher R. Daniels
- 66% Approval rate, last 12 months Thaddeus J. Hess
- 68% Approval rate, last 12 months Jonathan T. Shoenholz
- 66% Approval rate, last 12 months Julie Petri
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Diggs and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, William P. Diggs approved 67% of cases, which is at the top of the 15% to 67% range seen among the 5 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
William P. Diggs has an approval rate of 68% across 3,604 decisions on record since 2017. While the rate has fluctuated annually, the 67% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, remains consistent with the long-term record. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in any SSDI decision. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively for your hearing.
