Approval rates
The 79% approval rate for Robert Egan covers all 1,110 decisions on record since 2016. Among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charlotte hearing office, approval rates range from 29% to 83%. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Egan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Egan'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
Robert Egan's approval rate has fluctuated over the recorded window. You can see the yearly trend: 72% in 2016, 69% in 2017, 78% in 2018, 88% in 2019, and 75% in 2020. These figures reflect historical decision-making patterns rather than a fixed policy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Egan'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 Charlotte hearing office
Robert Egan's most recent SSA record (January 2016 → September 2020) is at the Charlotte hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charlotte
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly, meaning you do not choose your judge. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charlotte hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 29% to 83% on their since-2016 records. These office-wide statistics provide context for the environment in which your case will be heard.
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
Robert Egan has an approval rate of 79% on record since 2016. This sits within the 29% to 83% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charlotte hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific standards of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated. It was 72% in 2016, 69% in 2017, 78% in 2018, 88% in 2019, and 75% in 2020. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
The 79% approval rate for Robert Egan is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of your outcome. It reflects past decisions and does not predict how the judge will rule on your specific medical evidence. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively to any judge.
