Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. Richard E. Guida's lifetime record of 29% sits within the Harrisburg office-wide lifetime range of 17% to 86%. In the most recent reporting period, his 24% approval rate is 19 points lower than the office average of 43%. These figures are based on a large docket of 4,569 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation. 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 Guida'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 judge's approval rate has shown variance, moving from 32% in the early years to 24% in the most recent period. This trend reflects a shift in outcomes over his 4,569 lifetime decisions. While the latest-period denial rate of 76% is notable, each case is unique and depends heavily on the medical evidence you provide. The recent data suggests a consistent pattern of decision-making that differs from the office-wide average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Guida'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 Harrisburg hearing office
The Harrisburg hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region, operating as a critical hub for disability adjudication in Pennsylvania. The office maintains a diverse bench of 13 judges who handle a high volume of cases. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 43%, you should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical documentation. You can see the Harrisburg Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot request a specific judge. There are 13 judges on record at the Harrisburg office, with 5 currently reporting in the latest SSA data. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 17% to 86% over their respective careers. You can review the office-wide performance to understand the broader context of your hearing.
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
Richard E. Guida's latest-period approval rate of 24% is 19 points lower than the Harrisburg office average of 43%. Because approval rates vary widely across the 13 judges on record at this office, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of the judge assigned to your case.
Yes, the approval rate for Richard E. Guida has fluctuated since 2016. While he reached a high of 36% in 2017, the most recent data shows a 24% approval rate. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare a robust case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Richard E. Guida has approved 29% of the 4,569 cases he has heard since 2016. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.