Approval rates
Judge McGhee has established a consistent record over his 10-year tenure, with a lifetime approval rate of 65% based on 20,505 lifetime decisions. This performance is measured against a national average of 58% and a local office average of 58% during the latest reporting period. These figures provide statistical context for your hearing preparation, though they do not predict the outcome of your specific claim.
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 McGhee'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 approval trend for Judge McGhee has shown fluctuations over the last decade, ranging from a low of 54% in 2021 to a high of 71% in 2024. His 65% lifetime approval rate remains a stable indicator of his overall approach to disability claims. The most recent data suggests a period of higher approval activity compared to his career mid-point, reflecting the evolving nature of the cases assigned to his docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McGhee'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 McGhee? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Tampa hearing office
The Tampa Hearing Office serves a significant volume of claimants throughout Florida, managing a diverse caseload with a bench of 6 administrative law judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 58%, aligning with national trends for the latest reporting period. You should expect a thorough review of your medical evidence and vocational testimony during your proceedings. You can find more information on the Tampa Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge McGhee is essentially random. Across the Tampa hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 administrative law judges range from 48% to 70%. While these variations exist, the fundamental requirements for proving your disability remain consistent regardless of the judge assigned to your case.
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.