Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Henry Oliver based on 1,028 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2019. These figures are compared against the range of other judges who decided cases at the Elkins Park office in the most recent SSA file. Because case assignment is random, understanding the broader bench performance provides helpful context. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Oliver is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Oliver isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Oliver'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
Henry Oliver decided 1,028 cases between 2016 and 2019. The annual approval rate was 90% in 2016, 77% in 2017, 80% in 2018, and 76% in 2019. These figures show the variation in the approval rate over the recorded period. The data reflects the outcomes of these specific years rather than a consistent trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Oliver'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 Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park Hearing Office serves you in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. As of the most recent record in September 2019, this office maintained a bench of 24 judges. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Elkins Park Hearing Office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Elkins Park
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Elkins Park, 10 decided cases in the most recent SSA file and range from 50% to 72% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Henry Oliver's 82% approval rate on record since 2016 sits above the 50% to 72% range observed among the 10 judges who decided cases at the Elkins Park office in the most recent SSA file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your hearing strategy.
The approval rate for Henry Oliver was 90% in 2016 and 76% in 2019, with fluctuations in the intervening years. These figures represent past decisions and do not indicate a specific trend for your future case. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific claim. The strength of your medical evidence and vocational testimony remains the most important factor in your hearing. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present the strongest possible case.
