Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure the data remains meaningful. Jeffrey L. Eastham maintains a lifetime approval rate of 42% across 2,399 decisions, which sits within the broader Lexington office range of 21% to 79%. In the most recent reporting period, his 53% approval rate tracks 3 percentage points above the office average of 50%.
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 Eastham'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 decision pattern for Jeffrey L. Eastham shows variance over the years, beginning with a 66% approval rate in 2018 before shifting in subsequent years. Following a period of fluctuation, the latest data indicates a 53% approval rate. These trends reflect the evolving nature of the evidence presented in each case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Eastham'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 Lexington hearing office
The Lexington hearing office serves you throughout the region, managing a diverse caseload of disability applications. With 18 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 50%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary factor in the outcome.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges on record at this office since 2016, 10 of whom reported in the latest SSA period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 21% to 79% on a lifetime basis.
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
In the latest reporting period, Jeffrey L. Eastham approved 53% of cases, which is 3 percentage points higher than the Lexington office average of 50%. While his lifetime rate is 42%, recent trends show him aligning more closely with or slightly above his peers. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to best suit this hearing environment.
Yes, the approval rate for Jeffrey L. Eastham has fluctuated since 2017. After an initial 66% approval rate in 2018, the figures shifted in the following years before reaching 53% in the most recent period. These changes often reflect shifts in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence provided. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the specific evidentiary standards this judge looks for.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to be prepared for any judge at the Lexington office. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is ultimately assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the severity of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your testimony clearly highlights why you meet the criteria for disability.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Jeffrey L. Eastham has a lifetime approval rate of 42%, your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation supporting your claim. An attorney can help you gather the necessary records to build the most persuasive case possible.