Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Richard Furcolo has a 33% approval rate on record since 2016, his latest-period performance shows a 29% approval rate. This sits below the 51% office-wide average for the same recent period. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable view of past trends.
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 Furcolo'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 approval trend for Richard Furcolo has fluctuated over the last decade. After reaching a peak of 40% in 2023, the rate trended to 29% in 2026. With 3,180 total decisions on record since 2016, the data indicates a shift in outcomes during the most recent reporting period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Furcolo'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 Jacksonville hearing office
Richard Furcolo's most recent office on record is the Jacksonville Hearing Office. This office is part of a broader regional network handling a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 17 judges, the office maintains its own internal standards for case evaluation.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. At the Jacksonville office, there are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 10 of them having decided cases in the latest file. Approval rates among this bench range from 33% to 78% on their records 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
Richard Furcolo has a 33% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits at the lower end of the 33% to 78% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated, moving from 28% in 2016 to a high of 40% in 2023, before settling at 29% in the latest period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your case strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process random. An attorney can help you focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of your assignment.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. While Richard Furcolo has a 33% approval rate since 2016, every case is decided on its own merits and evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths against the judge's historical patterns.
