Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While the 53% approval rate reflects performance since October 2023, recent data from the latest reporting period shows a 47% approval rate. This latest-period figure sits 22 percentage points below the South Jersey office average of 69%. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable look at past patterns.
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 Green'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 data for Tonya Green covers 942 decisions on record since October 2023. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 61% in 2024, 53% in 2025, and 47% during the partial 2026 fiscal year. This indicates a shift in recent outcomes compared to the overall average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Green'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 South Jersey hearing office
The most recent office on record for Tonya Green is the South Jersey hearing office, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges. In the latest reporting period, the office-wide approval rate was 69%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is South Jersey
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the South Jersey office, and 8 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 50% to 93% on their records.
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
Tonya Green's latest-period approval rate of 47% is 22 percentage points lower than the South Jersey office average of 69%. Because case assignment is random, you cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a decline in approval rates over time. Tonya Green's approval rate was 61% in 2024 and 53% in 2025, with a 47% rate recorded in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence with an attorney is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Tonya Green's 53% rate since 2023 provides context, your case's success depends on the strength of your medical documentation. An attorney can help you determine if your evidence meets the necessary standards.
