Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 73% approval rate for Robert O. Foerster reflects his total decisions on record since 2016, which you can compare against the 36% to 81% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding the local bench.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Foerster. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Foerster'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
The 2,991 decisions on record for Robert O. Foerster since 2016 reveal a generally steady approval pattern. While the rate was 74% in 2016 and 67% in 2024, the volume of cases processed over time shows a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Foerster'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 Savannah hearing office
Robert O. Foerster's most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office, which serves you across the Georgia region. This office is associated with 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, and it maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 54%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Savannah
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 36% to 81% on their since-2016 records.
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 O. Foerster has an approval rate of 73% on record since 2016. This sits within the 36% to 81% range of the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Robert O. Foerster has fluctuated between 74% in 2016 and 67% in 2024. While there is year-to-year variation, the overall pattern remains consistent across his 2,991 decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your limitations. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
The 73% approval rate for Robert O. Foerster is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your functional limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
