Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. While Suzanne A. Littlefield has a 57% approval rate since 2016, recent reporting shows an 81% approval rate in the latest period, which is 15 points higher than the Atlanta Downtown office average of 66%. These figures are based on a substantial docket of 2,480 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Littlefield'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 trend for Suzanne A. Littlefield has fluctuated over the last decade, starting at 46% in 2016 and reaching 81% in the most recent partial fiscal year. With 2,480 decisions on record since 2016, the data shows a notable shift in the latest reporting period compared to the long-term average. This recent uptick may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality, as the judge's latest-period approval rate of 81% stands well above the national average of 58%.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Littlefield'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 Downtown hearing office
Suzanne A. Littlefield's most recent office on record is the Atlanta Downtown hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 22 judges and reported a 66% approval rate during the latest period. You can expect a formal hearing process where the presentation of medical evidence is critical to the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta Downtown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta Downtown office, with approval rates ranging from 23% to 86% since 2016. Nine of these judges decided cases in the latest SSA file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Suzanne A. Littlefield's 57% approval rate since 2016 sits within the broader range of 23% to 86% observed among the 22 judges at the Atlanta Downtown office. Because each judge has a unique approach to weighing evidence, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a trend of variance over time. While the rate was 46% in 2016, it has risen to 81% in the latest partial fiscal year. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical situation.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why working with an attorney to prepare for any potential outcome is a common strategy.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions the judge is likely to ask.
The 57% approval rate on record for Suzanne A. Littlefield is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible.
