Approval rates
To understand how your case might be evaluated, it is helpful to compare the judge's performance against the broader bench. While the office-wide approval rate for the latest period sits at 45%, this judge's latest-period approval rate is 52%. This data is derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a statistical baseline for the office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 Dominick'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
Since November 2017, this judge has issued 3,043 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows a period of stability followed by an increase in 2022 and 2023, before returning to a more moderate level in the most recent fiscal year. While the latest-period approval rate of 52% is lower than the peak years, it remains consistent with the long-term average. This pattern suggests that the approach to evidence has remained steady over the observed window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dominick'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 Wilkes Barre hearing office
The Wilkes Barre hearing office serves claimants across Pennsylvania and is part of a regional network of SSA offices. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, which recorded an office-wide approval rate of 45% during the latest reporting period. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical and vocational evidence at this office.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre
The Social Security Administration uses 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 Wilkes Barre hearing office, 11 of whom decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 27% to 57% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
This judge's approval rate of 53% since 2017 sits within the 27% to 57% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre. Because each judge evaluates evidence differently, an attorney can help you prepare a case strategy tailored to the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate has fluctuated over time, with a rise in 2022 and 2023 before settling at 52% in the most recent period. While these trends provide context, they do not dictate the outcome of your specific hearing. A qualified attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, meaning the assignment is essentially random. Regardless of your assigned judge, an attorney can help you organize your medical records to meet the SSA's standard of disability.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical and vocational evidence. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. Having an attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your testimony is clear and consistent.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While this judge has approved 53% of cases on record since 2017, your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your file and strengthen your case before the hearing date.
