Approval rates
Comparing a judge's history to broader trends helps put your hearing into perspective. Judge Graffius currently tracks 4 points below the Johnstown office average and 9 points below the national average of 58%. These comparisons are based on a significant docket of 8,361 lifetime decisions, providing a stable look at his judicial record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Graffius'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 4 years on the bench, Judge Graffius has demonstrated a steady decision-making pattern. His approval rate shifted from 44% in 2016 to 53% in 2017, before stabilizing between 50% and 52% in subsequent years. This consistency suggests a predictable approach to evaluating medical evidence and vocational factors. The recent data reflects a continuation of this established trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Graffius'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 Graffius? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Johnstown hearing office
The Johnstown Hearing Office serves a broad population across Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an overall approval rate that reflects the complex nature of the regional caseload. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and work history. You can see the Johnstown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Johnstown office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 81%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your own medical evidence is the most effective strategy. The guidance for your case remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.