Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Philip J. Healy maintains a 56% approval rate across all decisions on record since January 2023, his latest-period performance shows a 58% approval rate, which is 10 percentage points higher than the office-wide latest-period average of 48%. These figures provide context for the decision-making environment at the office.
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 Healy'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 January 2023, Philip J. Healy has issued 1,101 decisions. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 57% in 2023, 56% in 2024, 53% in 2025, and 58% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. These patterns illustrate consistency over time, though your outcome depends on the medical evidence you present.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Healy'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 Charleston SC hearing office
The Charleston SC hearing office serves you throughout the region. As of the latest data from July 2026, this office has seen a variety of outcomes across its bench of 15 judges. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical documentation, as the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 48%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charleston SC hearing office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 17% to 87% 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
Philip J. Healy's latest-period approval rate of 58% sits 10 percentage points above the Charleston SC office-wide latest-period average of 48%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case specifically for the standards of this hearing office.
Philip J. Healy's approval rate has seen minor fluctuations, starting at 57% in 2023 and reaching 58% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. These shifts often reflect changes in the types of cases or evidence presented. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain random. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will discuss your ability to work. An attorney can help you ensure your testimony is clear and your evidence is organized.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Philip J. Healy has a 56% approval rate on record since 2023, your result will depend on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare effectively for your hearing.
