Approval rates
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, William M. Manico's 77% approval rate compares to the Baltimore office rate of 60%, the Maryland state rate of 56%, and the national average of 58%. These figures are based on 75 decisions.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Judge Manico made fewer than 100 decisions in the last 12 months, too few for a fair side-by-side, so the judge comparison tool leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Manico'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
Since January 2016, William M. Manico has issued 3,149 decisions with an overall approval rate of 68%. Yearly approval rates were 60% in 2016, 53% in 2017, 61% in 2018, 64% in 2019, 66% in 2020, 80% in 2021, 79% in 2022, 89% in 2023, 83% in 2024, 84% in 2025, and 73% in the partial 2026 fiscal year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Manico'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore office is the most recent office on record for William M. Manico, with activity logged through July 2026. The office recorded a 60% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The 8 judges who decided cases at the Baltimore office in SSA's latest file range from 41% to 77% in approval rates over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. This range reflects the activity of the current bench.
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, William M. Manico's 77% approval rate is higher than the 60% average for the Baltimore office. Among the 8 judges active in SSA's latest file at this office, approval rates range from 41% to 77%. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated, moving from 60% in 2016 to 89% in 2023, and 77% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present the strongest possible case.
