Approval rates
Judge Perkerson's approval rate is calculated based on 2,400 lifetime decisions. In the latest reporting period, this judge's rate is 4 percentage points higher than both the state and national averages of 58%. While the office average currently stands at 68%, these figures provide a snapshot of the judicial environment rather than a guarantee of your outcome.
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 Perkerson'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 2-year tenure, Judge Perkerson has shown a shift in approval patterns. Starting with a 59% approval rate in 2016, the data indicates an increase to 69% in 2017. These patterns are common as judges settle into their dockets, and the latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Perkerson'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 Perkerson? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Covington GA hearing office
The Covington GA hearing office serves you throughout the region, managing a high volume of disability cases. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 68%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Covington GA hearing office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Perkerson is essentially random. Across the office's bench of 6 judges, lifetime approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 40% to 71%. This variance highlights the importance of presenting a well-documented case regardless of the specific judge assigned.
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.