Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at both lifetime averages and recent trends. Judge McAneney maintains a 59% lifetime approval rate, which provides a stable baseline for understanding her courtroom history. In the most recent reporting period, her approval rate was 51%, compared to the 60% office average and the 58% national average. These figures are derived from 17,341 lifetime decisions, offering a robust sample size for analysis. 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 McAneney'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 a decade on the bench, Judge McAneney has seen her approval rates fluctuate, reflecting the complexities of the cases she reviews. Her career began with higher approval rates in 2016 and 2017, followed by a period of adjustment in the following years. While the most recent data shows a rate of 51%, her long-term consistency suggests a judge who evaluates each claim based on the specific medical evidence you present. This recent period represents a shift from the higher rates observed in 2024, indicating that case mix and evidence quality remain the primary drivers of her decisions.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McAneney'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 McAneney? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park Hearing Office serves a broad population across Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where procedural rigor is prioritized to ensure timely processing. You should be prepared for a formal hearing process that emphasizes detailed medical records and vocational testimony. You can see the Elkins Park 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 Elkins Park Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 50% to 71%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical documentation and testimony. You can find more information on the Elkins Park Hearing Office page.
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.