Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 50% approval rate for William L. Hogan reflects his entire record since 2017, which sits within the 41% to 88% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Covington GA. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided at this office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Hogan. 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 Hogan'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
The approval rate for William L. Hogan has shown a varied trend across his 2,009 decisions on record since 2017. After starting at 41% in 2017, the annual approval rate fluctuated before reaching 61% in 2025. This pattern suggests that the judge's decision-making has evolved over the years, with the most recent period reflecting a continuation of this upward trend. These shifts may stem from changes in case complexity or the specific evidence you present in your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hogan'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 Covington GA hearing office
The Covington GA hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 64%. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in the outcome. You can see the Covington GA Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Covington GA
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the assignment to William L. Hogan or any other judge is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Covington GA, and their approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 41% to 88%. This variance highlights why thorough preparation is essential regardless of the specific judge assigned to your case.
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
William L. Hogan has a 50% approval rate on record since 2017. Among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Covington GA, approval rates range from 41% to 88%. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for William L. Hogan has fluctuated over time, moving from 41% in 2017 to 61% in 2025. This trend reflects the judge's decisions over 2,009 cases on record. An attorney can help you determine how these patterns might relate to your specific disability claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control the assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of the judge you are assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence to determine if you meet the criteria for disability. You will likely answer questions about your medical history, daily limitations, and work capacity. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to present the strongest possible case.
