Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. Steve Lamb's 60% approval rate reflects his total decisions on record since 2016. This is best understood against the broader bench at the Atlanta North office, where since-2016 approval rates for judges range from 24% to 94%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Lamb. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Lamb'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
Steve Lamb's approval rate on record since 2016 is 60% across 634 decisions. His yearly trend shows 61% in 2017 and 58% in 2018. This pattern indicates a steady approach to case evaluation over the period for which data is available.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lamb'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 Atlanta North hearing office
Steve Lamb's most recent office on record is the Atlanta North hearing office, with decisions there through September 2018. This office serves you if you are in the region. With 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office handles a diverse volume of disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta North office, with approval rates ranging from 24% to 94% on their since-2016 records. Because assignment is outside of your control, understanding the office-wide bench is helpful.
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
Steve Lamb has an approval rate of 60% on his record since 2016. This falls within the 24% to 94% range observed among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta North office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Steve Lamb's approval rate was 61% in 2017 and 58% in 2018. This indicates a steady pattern of decision-making across the 634 decisions on record. If you are concerned about how your case may be viewed, an attorney can help you evaluate your evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that assignments are random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a prediction of your specific outcome. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in your disability claim. An attorney can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your case before you appear before the judge.
