Approval rates
The approval rate for Jeffrey A. Hatfield is based on 3,573 lifetime decisions. Within the Honolulu hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the 4 judges on record range from 61% to 83%. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Hatfield. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Hatfield'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, the approval record for Jeffrey A. Hatfield has shown a notable trajectory. After starting with rates in the 70s, the judge saw an increase in approvals, peaking at 93% in 2023. The most recent data from 2025 shows a rate of 79%. This pattern reflects how the judge has navigated evolving case complexities over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hatfield'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Honolulu hearing office
The Honolulu hearing office serves you throughout Hawaii. This office operates with a bench of 4 judges on record. You can expect a standard administrative process where the quality of medical documentation remains the primary factor in a favorable outcome. You can see the Honolulu Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 4 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates vary across this bench, ranging from 61% to 83% over their respective lifetimes.
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
Jeffrey A. Hatfield sits at the higher end of the local bench, which features lifetime approval rates ranging from 61% to 83%. While this data is useful for context, every case is unique. An attorney can help you understand how your medical evidence aligns with the expectations of judges in this office.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. After maintaining approval rates in the 70s during the early part of the record, the rate climbed, reaching 93% in 2023 before settling at 79% in 2025. An attorney can help you prepare your case to address these shifts in decision patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to have an attorney who can help you prepare for any outcome.
An 82% lifetime approval rate provides a look at past trends, but it is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your success depends on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you present your limitations. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case.