Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Jack Penca based on 2,061 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2023. It compares this performance against the range of 45% to 64% for the 3 judges who have decided cases at the Dover Hearing Office in the most recent SSA data. These figures provide a statistical overview of past activity.
Judge Penca 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 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Penca 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 Penca'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, Jack Penca has issued 2,061 decisions. The annual approval rate has fluctuated, starting at 38% in 2016 and reaching 46% by 2021. Following a smaller volume of decisions in 2022, the rate was 41% in 2023. The data shows a varied pattern across these years, with the most recent full year of data sitting near the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Penca'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 Dover hearing office
The Dover Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Jack Penca as of September 2023. This office has a bench of 6 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can see the Dover Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dover
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Dover Hearing Office, there are 6 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 3 of them having decided cases in the most recent SSA file. These 3 judges range from 45% to 64% 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
Jack Penca's 42% approval rate on record since 2016 sits below the 45% to 64% range of the 3 judges who decided cases at the Dover Hearing Office in the most recent SSA file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Jack Penca has seen variation since 2016, moving from 38% in 2016 to 41% in 2023. Because these rates are based on past decisions, they do not indicate how your future case will be decided. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Regardless of the judge assigned, an attorney can help you build a strong case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends on the medical evidence and testimony presented in your file. An attorney can help you organize your records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
