Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Walter C. Herin Jr. has a 57% approval rate since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 69%, which sits 7 points above the Columbia SC office average of 62%. These figures are drawn from a large docket of 3,488 decisions, providing a stable basis for analysis.
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 Herin Jr.'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 rate for Walter C. Herin Jr. has varied, moving from 61% in 2016 to 69% in 2026. This pattern reflects 3,488 total decisions on record. While the rate dipped in 2021, the most recent data indicates a shift toward higher approval levels compared to the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Herin Jr.'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 Columbia SC hearing office
The Columbia SC hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region. This office maintains a bench of 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 62%, the environment is shaped by a variety of judicial approaches.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Columbia SC
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 6 of them having decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 50% to 81% 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
Walter C. Herin Jr. has an approval rate of 57% since 2016. Across the bench of 12 judges whose most recent office on record is Columbia SC, approval rates range from 50% to 81%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Walter C. Herin Jr. has fluctuated, starting at 61% in 2016 and reaching 69% in 2026. Because these rates change, having an attorney review your medical evidence is a critical step in your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will be asked questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. While Walter C. Herin Jr. has a 57% approval rate since 2016, your specific result depends on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths.
