Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Tammy Georgian maintains a 17% lifetime approval rate, her latest-period approval rate of 14% sits 34 points below the Charleston SC office average of 48%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 2,616 lifetime decisions, providing a stable view of past activity. These metrics reflect historical trends rather than a fixed outcome for your 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 Georgian'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, Tammy Georgian's approval rate has fluctuated, showing a peak of 22% in 2022 and 2023 before settling to 14% in the most recent reporting period. This pattern reflects a consistent approach to evidence evaluation over her 2,616 lifetime decisions. The recent decline in the approval rate suggests a trend where strict adherence to documentation is prioritized. These shifts often mirror changes in the complexity of cases assigned to the bench.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Georgian'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 Charleston SC hearing office
The Charleston SC hearing office serves claimants throughout the region, operating as a hub for disability adjudication. With a bench of 15 judges on record and a latest-period office-wide approval rate of 48%, this office manages a high volume of claims. You can expect a formal process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Charleston SC Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Charleston SC office, there are 15 judges on record since 2016, with 5 currently reporting activity. The lifetime approval rates across this bench range from 17% to 87%, highlighting the variance you may encounter. This range provides a broader context for the office's adjudication environment.
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
Tammy Georgian's 17% lifetime approval rate is at the lower end of the 17% to 87% range observed among the 15 judges on record at the Charleston SC office. Because every judge has a different approach to evaluating evidence, an attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses these specific bench tendencies.
Yes, the data shows a trend where the approval rate moved from 20% in 2016 to 14% in 2026. While these fluctuations occur, they are based on 2,616 lifetime decisions and do not guarantee the outcome of your specific hearing. An attorney can help you navigate these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, meaning your assignment is essentially random.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you, a medical expert, or a vocational expert. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions Tammy Georgian or any other judge may ask.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your future outcome. While Tammy Georgian's 17% lifetime rate provides context, your success depends primarily on the quality and completeness of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a stronger case.