Approval rates
Judge Ginsberg maintains a lifetime approval rate of 56% based on 17,710 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded an approval rate of 67%, compared to the Denver office average of 62% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical snapshot of the judge's history rather than a guarantee of future outcomes.
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 Ginsberg'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 10-year tenure, Judge Ginsberg has shown a steady trend in approval patterns. While the rate fluctuated during the middle years of this period, recent data shows an uptick, with the latest reporting period reaching 67%. This shift may reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented. The current pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim based on the established evidentiary record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ginsberg'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 Ginsberg? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Denver hearing office
The Denver Hearing Office serves a broad population across Colorado, managing a high volume of SSDI claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 62%, reflecting the regional trends in disability adjudication. You should expect a formal process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Ginsberg is essentially random. Across the Denver bench, lifetime approval rates for the 6 judges range from 45% to 62%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence.
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.