Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 59% approval rate for Thomas W. Erwin since 2016 sits within the 41% to 66% range observed among the 5 judges whose most recent office on record is the Roanoke Hearing Office. In the most recent reporting period, Thomas W. Erwin maintained a 59% approval rate, which is 5 points higher than the office average of 54%.
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 Erwin'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
Thomas W. Erwin has issued 4,082 decisions on record since January 2016. The approval rate has fluctuated over this period, with a rise in 2023 and 2024 before settling to 59% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This latest figure aligns closely with the long-term average, reflecting a consistent decision-making pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Erwin'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 Roanoke hearing office
The Roanoke Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Thomas W. Erwin as of July 2026. This office bench consists of 5 judges who manage a caseload of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 54%, you can expect a review of your medical evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Roanoke
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is the Roanoke Hearing Office, 4 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 41% to 66% since 2016.
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
Thomas W. Erwin's 59% approval rate in the latest period is 5 points higher than the 54% average for the Roanoke Hearing Office. While this indicates a higher rate than the office average in the most recent data, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Thomas W. Erwin has fluctuated over the years, reaching a peak of 67% in 2024 before moving to 59% in the most recent partial year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. An attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure your testimony and evidence are presented clearly to the judge.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how Thomas W. Erwin will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you prepare your case to maximize your chances.
