Approval rates
When evaluating your claim, it is helpful to look at how Judge Marcy compares to broader benchmarks. His recent performance shows an approval rate that is 8 points higher than the Fort Worth Hearing Office average and 5 points above the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of 16,458 lifetime decisions, providing a stable view of his historical pattern. 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 Marcy'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 his 6 years on the bench, Judge Marcy has demonstrated a generally consistent approach to disability claims. His annual approval rates have fluctuated, starting at 55% in 2016 and reaching 77% in 2021. This trend suggests that while his baseline remains steady, the outcomes in any given year can be influenced by the complexity of the cases heard. The recent period reflects a continuation of this pattern, highlighting the importance of presenting clear medical evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Marcy'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 Marcy? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Fort Worth hearing office
The Fort Worth Hearing Office serves a large population in Texas, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 55%. You should be prepared for a formal hearing process where medical documentation is the primary factor in a decision. You can visit the Fort Worth Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Fort Worth Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 ALJs range from 30% to 63%. Because you cannot choose your judge, your focus should remain on building a robust case. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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.