Approval rates
Judge Isherwood's approval rate is currently 28%, which compares to an office-wide average of 56% and a national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 17,284 lifetime decisions. While these numbers provide context, they do not account for the unique medical evidence or vocational factors present in your specific claim. 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 Isherwood'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 his 8 years on the bench, Judge Isherwood has seen his approval rates fluctuate, peaking in 2019 before trending lower. The most recent data shows a 28% approval rate, which is a shift from the 13% observed in 2022. This pattern reflects a period of stabilization following earlier volatility in his caseload. The latest period shows a continuation of a steady approach to benefit approvals.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Isherwood'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 Isherwood? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Phoenix Downtown hearing office
The Phoenix Downtown Hearing Office serves a large population across Arizona, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 5 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 56%. You should expect a formal hearing process focused on objective medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Phoenix Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Phoenix Downtown Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. The bench here is diverse, with lifetime approval rates among the 5 judges ranging from 30% to 53%. Because assignment is random, you should focus your efforts on building a robust medical record that meets the requirements of 20 CFR Part 404.
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.