Approval rates
The approval rate for Judge Payne is based on a docket of 10,528 lifetime decisions. When comparing this to the latest reporting period, the judge's rate remains a point of interest relative to the Spokane office average of 72% and the national average of 58%. These figures offer a statistical snapshot of past activity rather than a guarantee of future results. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Payne'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
Over a 5-year tenure, Judge Payne has demonstrated a consistent trend in decision-making. Starting with an approval rate of 43% in 2016, the figures rose and stabilized, reaching 61% by 2020. This upward trajectory suggests a steady pattern in how evidence is weighed over time. The recent reporting period reflects a continuation of this stable approach to case evaluation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Payne'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.
Hearing with Judge Payne? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Spokane hearing office
The Spokane Hearing Office serves you across Washington and the surrounding region. It manages a high volume of cases with a bench of 6 judges who oversee a diverse range of disability claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 72%, the environment is active and fast-paced. You can see the Spokane Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Spokane office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 48% to 78%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. You can find more information on the Spokane Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.