Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the 49% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, the latest-period figures offer a snapshot of current trends. In the most recent reporting period, the 48% approval rate sits 3 percentage points above the Huntington WV office average of 45%. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation.
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 Hodges'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 Maria Hodges has remained steady, typically fluctuating between 43% and 52% annually. The data shows a consistent pattern of decision-making over the 5,423 decisions on record. While the 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate of 48% shows a slight shift, it remains well within the historical range observed since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hodges'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 Huntington WV hearing office
The Huntington WV hearing office maintains a bench of 4 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 45%. You can see the Huntington WV Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Huntington WV
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Huntington WV office, there are 4 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, all of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates among this bench range from 38% to 51% 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
Maria Hodges has an approval rate of 49% on record since 2016. This places the judge within the 38% to 51% range observed among the 4 judges whose most recent office on record is the Huntington WV office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Maria Hodges has remained steady, with annual rates ranging from 43% to 52% since 2016. While the latest-period rate is 48%, this is consistent with the judge's long-term pattern of decision-making. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to build a strong, evidence-based case is the best way to prepare for any hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you organize your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented to the judge.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The 49% rate since 2016 reflects a broad history of case outcomes, but your individual success depends on the strength of your medical documentation. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence that may be critical to your claim.
