Approval rates
Judge Hoover has maintained a lifetime approval rate of 17% across 8,751 lifetime decisions. Compared to the latest reporting period, her approval rate remains distinct from the Harrisburg office average of 43% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a clear view of historical trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Hoover'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
Over 8 years on the bench, Judge Hoover has shown a consistent decision pattern. While her approval rate experienced a low of 8% in 2021, data from 2024 shows an uptick to 23%. This fluctuation is common in long-term judicial careers and may reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented. The latest period suggests a shift toward her historical average after a period of lower approval activity.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hoover'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.
Hearing with Judge Hoover? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Harrisburg hearing office
The Harrisburg Hearing Office serves a broad population across Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 43%. You can expect a rigorous review process focused on medical evidence and vocational factors. You can see the Harrisburg Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Hoover is essentially random. Across the Harrisburg office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 17% to 65%. This variance highlights why understanding the local judicial environment is important for your case. You can find more information on the Harrisburg Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.