Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, compare Judge Howard's 63% approval rate on record since 2016 against the 41% to 88% range seen across the bench at the Kingsport hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, Judge Howard maintained a 65% approval rate, which is 9 points above the office's 56% rate, 8 points above the state's 57% rate, and 7 points above the 58% national average. These figures reflect a docket of 5,161 decisions on record.
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 Howard'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 2016, Judge Howard has maintained a steady approval pattern across 5,161 decisions on record. While the annual approval rate has fluctuated between 58% and 67% over the last decade, the most recent data shows a 65% approval rate. This latest period reflects a continuation of his established decision-making pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Howard'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 Kingsport hearing office
Charles R. Howard's most recent office on record is the Kingsport hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office is staffed by 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, and it maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 56%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kingsport hearing office. Approval rates for this bench range from 41% to 88% 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
Judge Howard has an approval rate of 63% on his record since 2016. This places him within the 41% to 88% range of approval rates observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kingsport hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the expectations of this bench.
Judge Howard's approval rate has remained steady, with a 63% average on his 5,161 decisions on record since 2016. His most recent period shows a 65% approval rate, indicating a consistent approach to case evaluation. A qualified attorney can help you prepare a case strategy that aligns with these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, ensuring that assignments remain random. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare a strong, evidence-based case is the best way to ensure you are ready for any hearing outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony regarding your limitations. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will discuss how your health conditions prevent you from performing substantial gainful activity. An attorney can help you navigate the questioning and ensure your testimony clearly addresses the judge's concerns.
