Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. This judge's 75% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 39% to 78% range established by the bench of 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charleston WV hearing office. With 1,623 decisions on record, the data provides a clear view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Johnson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Johnson'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 Jon K. Johnson has shown fluctuations across the 1,623 decisions on record since 2016. After starting at 79% in 2016, the rate was 75% in 2017, 71% in 2018, 78% in 2019, and 65% in 2020. These shifts are common in judicial dockets and can be influenced by changes in case complexity or the specific evidence presented in a given year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Johnson'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 Charleston WV hearing office
The Charleston WV hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region. With 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office manages a diverse caseload. While the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 62%, your outcome depends heavily on the specific medical evidence in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston WV
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charleston WV hearing office, with approval rates on their since-2016 records ranging from 39% to 78%. Because you cannot choose your judge, understanding the general environment of the office is more useful than focusing on any single peer.
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 Johnson has an approval rate of 75% across 1,623 decisions on record since 2016. This places the judge at the higher end of the 39% to 78% range seen among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charleston WV hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
Yes, the approval rate for Judge Johnson has varied over time, starting at 79% in 2016 and moving to 65% by the end of the 2020 record window. These yearly shifts are typical for administrative law judges. A qualified attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence fits into this pattern.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence with an attorney is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will participate. Having an attorney can help you navigate the questioning and ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Judge Johnson has approved 75% of cases since 2016, your result depends on your unique medical history and documentation. An attorney can help you build a case that addresses the specific requirements of the SSA.
