Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the 57% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, the latest-period approval rate of 62% offers insight into more recent trends. These figures are supported by a volume of 3,150 decisions on record. 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 Papazekos'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 Joanna Papazekos has shown movement since 2016. With 3,150 total decisions on record, the latest reporting period shows a 62% approval rate, which is 13 percentage points above the office average, 8 percentage points above the state average, and 4 percentage points above the national average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Papazekos'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 Pittsburgh hearing office
Joanna Papazekos's most recent office on record is the Pittsburgh hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office maintains a diverse bench with varying approval patterns.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, from 28% to 74% 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
Judge Papazekos has an approval rate of 62% in the latest reporting period, which is 13 percentage points higher than the Pittsburgh office average of 49%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time. After reaching 45% in 2020, the rate has trended upward, reaching 62% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. Since you cannot control your judge assignment, working with an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of a hearing. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence to present the strongest possible case. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. While Judge Papazekos has a 57% approval rate on record since 2016, your individual result depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing.
