Approval rates
Evaluating an approval rate requires looking at the volume of work to ensure the data is statistically significant. With 3,150 decisions on record since 2016, the data for Stacy Paddack provides a clear view of historical decision-making patterns. You can compare this long-term record against the 34% to 77% range seen among other judges at the same office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Paddack'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
Since 2016, the approval rate for Stacy Paddack has shown a positive trend. In the latest reporting period, you would see an 86% approval rate, which stands 18 points above the office average, 27 points above the state average, and 28 points above the national average for the same timeframe. This recent performance reflects a consistent upward trajectory in decision-making.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Paddack'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 Tallahassee Fl OHO hearing office
The most recent office on record for Stacy Paddack is the Tallahassee FL OHO, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves you throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 9 judges who handle a wide variety of disability claims. The office-wide approval rate for the latest period was 68%, providing a baseline for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tallahassee Fl OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 77% since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent 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
Stacy Paddack has an approval rate of 77% on her record since 2016, which is at the high end of the 34% to 77% range observed among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tallahassee FL OHO. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Stacy Paddack has trended upward over time. While the rate was lower in the late 2010s, it reached 86% in the most recent reporting period. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Regardless of your judge, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how Stacy Paddack will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability under SSA rules. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
