Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. This judge's 48% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a broad view of his decision history, while latest-period data allows for a current comparison against the Providence office, state, and national benchmarks. With 3,932 decisions on record, the data offers a stable look at past performance.
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 Goodale'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, your approval rate for Paul W. Goodale has shown a gradual upward trend, moving from 40% in 2016 to 53% in the most recent period. This pattern reflects a steady evolution in his decision-making over the last decade. While the latest-period approval rate of 53% is higher than his long-term average, it remains consistent with recent yearly performance.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Goodale'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 Providence hearing office
The most recent office on record for Paul W. Goodale is the Providence hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges, and the office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 57%. You can expect a structured hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Providence
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Providence hearing office, there are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates for this bench range from 32% to 75% based on their records since 2016.
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
Judge Goodale has an approval rate of 48% since 2016. This sits within the range of 32% to 75% observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Providence hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your evidence for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Paul W. Goodale has trended upward over time, starting at 40% in 2016 and reaching 53% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you present your evidence clearly to the judge.
The 48% approval rate for Paul W. Goodale since 2016 represents a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
