Approval rates
The approval rate for Elizabeth Ebner is based on 2,588 decisions since 2016. When compared to the broader bench at the NHC Falls Church office, where approval rates for the 33 judges range from 29% to 85%, Ebner's record sits within the established local variance. These figures reflect historical data rather than a guarantee of future outcomes. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Ebner. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Ebner'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 2016, the approval rate for Elizabeth Ebner has shown a varied trend, beginning at 43% and reaching 68% in 2025. With 2,588 decisions on record, the data indicates a judge who has maintained a steady approach to case evaluation over the last decade. The fluctuations observed are common in complex disability dockets.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ebner'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 NHC Falls Church hearing office
The NHC Falls Church office serves as the most recent office on record for Elizabeth Ebner as of September 2025. This office is part of a regional network that handles a high volume of disability claims, with a bench of 33 judges who have recorded decisions there since 2016. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Falls Church
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 33 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Falls Church, with approval rates ranging from 29% to 85%. Because case assignment is outside of your control, understanding the general environment of the office is more useful than focusing on a single peer. 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
Elizabeth Ebner has an approval rate of 60% on record since 2016, which falls within the 29% to 85% range seen among the 33 judges at the NHC Falls Church office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Elizabeth Ebner has fluctuated over the years, starting at 43% in 2016 and reaching 68% in 2025. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in the complexity of cases assigned to the judge. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
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 for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony to determine if you meet disability criteria. You will likely be asked questions about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence before the hearing date.
The 60% approval rate for Elizabeth Ebner is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific case. Your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your functional limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.
