Approval rates
The approval rate for Louis G. McAfoos III is based on 1,210 decisions rendered between 2016 and 2018. This figure is compared against the since-2016 performance of other judges at the South Jersey Hearing Office to provide context for historical decision-making. These statistics rely on a large volume of cases to ensure a clear view of past activity.
Judge McAfoos III is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge McAfoos III isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge McAfoos III'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
Louis G. McAfoos III decided 1,210 cases on record from 2016 through 2018. The approval rate was 92% in 2016, 93% in 2017, and 95% in 2018. This data reflects the entirety of recorded activity within the provided SSA window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McAfoos III'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 South Jersey hearing office
The South Jersey Hearing Office serves you in New Jersey and the surrounding region. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, reflecting the office's historical capacity. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process governed by federal regulations.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is South Jersey
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 53% to 80% on their since-2016 records. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 8 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Louis G. McAfoos III has a 93% approval rate on record through 2018. This sits above the 53% to 80% range observed among the 8 judges who decided cases at the South Jersey office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these historical differences might relate to your own case strategy.
Louis G. McAfoos III maintained a steady approval pattern, with rates of 92% in 2016, 93% in 2017, and 95% in 2018. These figures represent activity through the end of the record in 2018. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is best to prepare your case thoroughly regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of any specific hearing. While the 93% rate is a matter of public record, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you prepare the documentation necessary to support your claim.
