Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your judge's 52% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, recent performance shows a 61% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest figure sits 6 points above the Norfolk office average of 55%. These statistics are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a reliable basis for understanding historical patterns.
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 Flynn'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 Monica L. Flynn has shown fluctuations, moving from 72% in 2017 to 47% in 2018, 46% in 2019, 51% in 2020, 45% in 2021, 56% in 2022, 55% in 2023, 62% in 2024, 50% in 2025, and 61% in 2026. With 1,992 total decisions on record, the data reveals a judge whose recent output reflects a shift from the mid-range performance seen in previous years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Flynn'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 Norfolk hearing office
Monica L. Flynn's most recent office on record is the Norfolk hearing office, which serves claimants across Virginia. This office is part of a regional network that handles a high volume of disability claims, with a bench of 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 55%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Norfolk
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Norfolk office. Approval rates for this bench range from 48% to 60% on their records since 2016. 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
Judge Flynn has an approval rate of 52% on record since 2016. This falls within the 48% to 60% range observed among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Norfolk office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Judge Flynn has varied over time. After reaching 72% in 2017, the rate fluctuated in subsequent years, with a recent approval rate of 61% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge you might draw. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert testify. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions to determine if your condition meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to build a strong case.
