Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their hearing office. The 53% approval rate for Andrew Gollin is based on 401 decisions on record since 2016. This figure sits within the 31% to 77% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Gollin. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
The approval rate for Andrew Gollin has remained steady across the 401 decisions on record since 2016. In 2016, the approval rate was 53% over 456 decisions, followed by a rate of 56% over 42 decisions in 2017. These trends reflect historical decision-making consistency.
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.
About the Cincinnati hearing office
Andrew Gollin's most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office. This office is staffed by 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the evidence provided in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 31% to 77% on their since-2016 records. 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
Andrew Gollin has an approval rate of 53% on record since 2016. This places him within the 31% to 77% range of the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Andrew Gollin has remained steady, moving from 53% in 2016 to 56% in 2017. These figures are based on his 401 decisions on record since 2016. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical and vocational evidence. You will likely answer questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Andrew Gollin has a 53% approval rate on record since 2016, your individual outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your case file.
