Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks helps you contextualize your hearing process. Judge McCafferty maintains a lifetime approval rate of 49%, which is measured against the latest Philadelphia Hearing Office average of 55% and the national average of 58%. With 19,093 decisions rendered, this data provides a stable look at her historical decision-making tendencies. 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 McCafferty'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 her 10 years on the bench, Judge McCafferty has seen her approval rates fluctuate within a consistent range. Starting at 42% in 2016, the rate reached 55% in 2023 and 2025. This trend suggests a steady approach to evaluating evidence. The latest period reflects a continuation of this stable pattern, indicating that the judge remains responsive to the specific medical and vocational evidence you present in your case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McCafferty'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 McCafferty? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Philadelphia hearing office
The Philadelphia Hearing Office serves a large population across Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of SSDI claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 55%. When you appear here, you should expect a formal hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the Philadelphia Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Philadelphia Hearing Office, the bench of 6 judges ranges from 41% to 70% in lifetime approval rates. While these rates vary, the evidentiary requirements for proving your disability remain constant across the entire office. For your preparation, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.