Approval rates
Judge Flynn's approval rate is measured against the latest performance data from the Portland ME Hearing Office and national benchmarks. During the most recent reporting period, the judge maintained an 80% approval rate, which is 13 percentage points higher than the office average and 17 points above the national average. These figures are derived from a docket of 17,628 lifetime decisions. 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 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
Over a decade on the bench, Judge Flynn has shown an upward trend in approval rates. While the rate fluctuated in the late 2010s, the trend shifted higher starting in 2021, reaching 88% in 2024. The latest reporting period shows an 80% approval rate, which remains consistent with this elevated pattern. This trajectory reflects a sustained approach to case evaluation that currently results in a higher rate of favorable outcomes compared to earlier 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.
Hearing with Judge Flynn? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Portland ME hearing office
The Portland ME Hearing Office serves you and other claimants throughout Maine and the surrounding region. It is staffed by a team of 6 administrative law judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 62%, reflecting the broader environment in which your hearing occurs.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Portland ME bench, lifetime approval rates for the 6 ALJs range from 40% to 75%. Because case assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence remains the most effective strategy.
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.