Approval rates
The approval rate for Patricia E. Hurt is based on 167 decisions on record since January 2016. When evaluating this figure, consider the broader bench at the Richmond hearing office, where judges range from 18% to 59% in their approval rates over the same period. These statistics provide a baseline for understanding how different judges approach their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Hurt. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Hurt'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 Patricia E. Hurt is calculated across 167 decisions on record since January 2016. Because case assignment is handled by a workload-balancing algorithm, the specific pattern of a judge is one of many variables that may influence the flow of your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hurt'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 Richmond hearing office
Patricia E. Hurt's most recent SSA record (September 2016) is at the Richmond hearing office, which serves you if you are in Virginia. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Richmond Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Richmond
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Richmond hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 18% to 59% 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
Patricia E. Hurt has an approval rate of 34% based on 167 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 18% to 59% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Richmond. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Patricia E. Hurt has remained steady across the 167 decisions on record since 2016. While past performance is a matter of record, it does not dictate the outcome of your future hearing. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
The 34% approval rate for Patricia E. Hurt reflects past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation supporting your disability claim. An attorney can help you ensure your file is complete and ready for review.
