Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 53% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 17% to 87% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC. These figures are derived from 805 decisions, providing a look at past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Mincey. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mincey'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 Danette Mincey has fluctuated across the 805 decisions on record since October 2016. The trend showed 47% in 2017, 66% in 2018, 37% in 2019, 60% in 2020, and 54% in 2021. These variations reflect the specific cases heard during those years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mincey'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 Charleston SC hearing office
The Charleston SC hearing office serves you throughout the region. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can see the Charleston SC hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 17% to 87% on their since-2016 records.
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
Danette Mincey's 53% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 17% to 87% range of the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
The approval rate has shown variance over time, starting at 47% in 2017, rising to 66% in 2018, and settling at 54% in 2021. These shifts are common as case mixes evolve. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you or a vocational expert. The goal is to determine if your condition meets the criteria for SSDI benefits. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. While it provides context on the judge's history, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your specific circumstances.
