Approval rates
Judge Elliott maintains an approval rate that consistently outpaces broader benchmarks. His 67% lifetime rate compares favorably against the Tacoma WA office average of 58% and the national average of 58%. With a docket of 2,655 lifetime decisions, the data provides a stable look at his decision-making history. 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 Elliott'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
During his 1 year on the bench, Judge Elliott has established a steady decision-making pattern. His approval rate of 67% reflects a consistent approach to the evidence presented in your disability claim. This performance remains stable compared to the latest reporting period, where he continues to trend above the office and state averages. This pattern suggests a predictable approach to case evaluation, though your outcome always depends on the strength of your medical evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Elliott'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.
Hearing with Judge Elliott? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Tacoma WA hearing office
The Tacoma WA hearing office serves a large population across the region, managing a high volume of SSDI cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 58%, reflecting the complex nature of the claims processed in this jurisdiction. You can expect a formal proceeding where your medical documentation and vocational testimony are central to the outcome. You can visit the Tacoma WA Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Across the 6 judges at the Tacoma WA office, lifetime approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 72%. This variance highlights why understanding the local bench is useful, even though the core requirements for proving disability remain constant. The guidance for your preparation is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.