Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Jenkins maintains a lifetime approval rate of 66%, which we evaluate against the Charlotte Hearing Office latest rate of 72% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from 20,766 lifetime decisions, providing a robust sample size for analysis. 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 Jenkins'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 a decade on the bench, your approval rate has shown notable fluctuations, ranging from a low of 50% in 2021 to a high of 81% in 2025. This variability suggests that your approach to evidence and case requirements can shift over time. The most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 80%, which is a significant uptick compared to earlier years in your tenure. This recent trend may reflect changes in the types of cases assigned or evolving standards for medical evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Jenkins'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 Jenkins? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Charlotte hearing office
The Charlotte Hearing Office serves a large population across North Carolina, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where caseloads are distributed to ensure timely processing. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the Charlotte Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you have no control over which judge hears your claim. Within the Charlotte Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 78%. Because the judge you draw is essentially random, focusing on the strength of your own medical evidence remains the most effective strategy. You can find more information on the Charlotte 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.