Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Gollin's lifetime approval rate of 52% is measured against the latest Cincinnati office average of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 2,544 lifetime decisions, offering a clear view of historical trends. 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 Gollin'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 his 2 years on the bench, Judge Gollin has maintained a consistent decision-making profile. His approval rate moved from 52% in 2016 to 56% in 2017, reflecting a steady approach to case evaluation. This pattern suggests that his recent decisions remain aligned with his established tenure. The latest period indicates that his approach to evidence and testimony has remained reliable throughout his time at the Cincinnati office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gollin'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 Gollin? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Cincinnati hearing office
The Cincinnati Hearing Office serves a large population across Ohio, managing a high volume of SSDI claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an average approval rate of 56%, reflecting the regional landscape of disability adjudication. You can expect a formal process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can view the full ALJ roster on the Cincinnati Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Cincinnati office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 37% to 73%. Because this variance exists, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of which judge is assigned. You can find more information on the Cincinnati Hearing Office page.
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.