Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 47% approval rate for Teresa J. McGarry reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 33% to 78% range observed among other judges whose most recent office on record is the Jacksonville hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from hundreds of cases. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge McGarry. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge McGarry'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
The 628 decisions on record for Teresa J. McGarry since 2016 show a steady pattern of approval. In 2016, the approval rate was 46% over 468 decisions, followed by 50% over 160 decisions in 2017. This trend indicates a consistent approach to case evaluation during the period covered by the available data.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McGarry'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 Jacksonville hearing office
Teresa J. McGarry's most recent office on record is the Jacksonville hearing office, with the last recorded decision dated September 2017. This office serves you if you are in Florida and is part of a broader regional network. With 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office handles a diverse range of disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Jacksonville hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 33% to 78% on their since-2016 records. Because assignment is outside of your control, understanding the general environment of the office is more useful than focusing on any single peer.
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
Teresa J. McGarry has an approval rate of 47% on her record since 2016. This sits within the 33% to 78% range of approval rates for the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Jacksonville hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Teresa J. McGarry was 46% in 2016 and 50% in 2017. This indicates a steady pattern of decision-making across the 628 decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence of your disability. You will likely testify about your symptoms and work history, and the judge may hear from medical or vocational experts. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible.
