Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Jerry Meade has an approval rate of 38% across 3,094 decisions since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 32%. This latest-period figure is 13 percentage points below the Huntington WV office average of 45%. Because the bench at this office ranges from 38% to 51% in their since-2016 records, understanding these metrics helps you prepare your evidence.
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 Meade'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 rate for Jerry Meade has fluctuated since 2016, showing 47% in 2016 and 32% in the latest reporting period. With 3,094 decisions on record, the data shows a trend that has varied over time. These shifts often stem from changes in the types of cases assigned or the evidence presented in your file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Meade'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 Huntington WV hearing office
The Huntington WV hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region. There are 4 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, which maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 45%. You should focus on ensuring your medical documentation is complete and addresses the specific requirements of your impairment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Huntington WV
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 4 judges whose most recent office on record is the Huntington WV office, and all 4 decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 38% to 51% based on records since 2016.
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
Jerry Meade has an approval rate of 38% since 2016, which is at the lower end of the 38% to 51% range observed among the 4 judges whose most recent office on record is the Huntington WV office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Jerry Meade has shifted over time, starting at 47% in 2016 and reaching 32% in the latest reporting period. Understanding these trends is part of building a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence aligns with current standards.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you or vocational experts. Having an attorney can help you organize your testimony and ensure your medical records are clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary 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 an attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible.
