Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your judge's 17% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, recent performance shows a 14% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest figure sits 34 points below the Charleston SC office average of 48%. These statistics are derived from a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable basis for analysis. 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 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
Your approval rate for Tammy Georgian has fluctuated across the 2,616 decisions on record since 2016. After seeing rates as high as 22% in 2022 and 2023, the most recent data shows a rate of 14% for the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent trend represents a shift from the performance seen in previous years. The latest period reflects a departure from the historical average, which may be influenced by changes in the types of cases heard or the specific medical evidence presented.
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 office serves you and other claimants across South Carolina. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, reflecting a diverse bench with varying approval patterns. In the latest reporting period, the office maintained an approval rate of 48%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary factor in your outcome. See the Charleston SC Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Charleston SC office, there are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 17% to 87% 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
Tammy Georgian has an approval rate of 17% on record since 2016. This sits at the lower end of the 17% to 87% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. While the rate was 20% in 2016 and reached 22% in 2022, the most recent data for 2026 shows a 14% approval rate. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control the assignment, working with an attorney can help you prepare for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence for your SSDI disability claim. You will likely answer questions about your work history and medical limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your specific outcome. While Tammy Georgian has a 17% approval rate since 2016, your case's success depends on the medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case regardless of the judge's historical patterns.
