Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Jeffrey A. Hatfield based on his 3,573 decisions on record since 2016. These figures provide a statistical overview of his historical decision-making patterns. The data is compared against the range of 61% to 67% for the other judges who have decided cases at this office in the most recent SSA file.
Judge Hatfield is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Hatfield isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
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, Jeffrey A. Hatfield has maintained a record of approvals across his 3,573 total decisions. His approval rate showed an upward trend between 2016 and 2023, reaching a peak of 93% in 2023. The most recent data from 2025 shows an approval rate of 79% over 146 decisions.
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.
About the Honolulu hearing office
The Honolulu Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Jeffrey A. Hatfield as of September 2025. There are four judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with two of them having decided cases in the most recent SSA file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Honolulu
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the four judges whose most recent office on record is Honolulu, the two judges who decided cases in the latest SSA file range from 61% to 67% on their since-2016 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
Jeffrey A. Hatfield has an 82% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits above the 61% to 67% range of the two judges who decided cases at the Honolulu office in the most recent SSA file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Jeffrey A. Hatfield's approval rate has fluctuated over his 3,573 decisions since 2016. While he saw an increase in approvals peaking in 2023, the most recent data from 2025 shows a rate of 79%. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation in your file. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for your hearing.
