Approval rates
The approval rate for a judge is a reflection of their history, not a guarantee of a future outcome. At the Philadelphia hearing office, the lifetime approval rates for judges on record range from 42% to 78%. This variation highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case matters, though aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge McCafferty. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
Since 2016, your judge's approval rate has shown a varied trend. After starting at 43% in 2016, the rate fluctuated, reaching a high of 57% in 2023 before moving to 55% in 2025. This pattern suggests that while the judge maintains a consistent approach, your outcomes can shift based on the specific evidence and case mix presented in any given year.
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.
About the Philadelphia hearing office
The Philadelphia hearing office serves you throughout the region, managing a significant volume of disability cases. With a bench of 14 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 56%. You can expect a formal, evidence-based process designed to evaluate the merits of your individual claim.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 14 judges on record at this office since 2016. Because approval rates across this bench range from 42% to 78%, it is natural to want to understand your assigned judge. You can review the Philadelphia hearing office page to see the full roster of judges.
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
Judge McCafferty has a lifetime approval rate of 49%. This sits within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 42% to 78% for the 14 judges on record at the Philadelphia office. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the specific standards of this office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over her 2,807 lifetime decisions since 2016. While she began with a 43% approval rate, recent years have seen rates as high as 57%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that assignments are random and impartial. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
A judge's lifetime approval rate of 49% is a statistical observation of past performance, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you build a stronger case.