Approval rates
Comparing an approval rate requires looking at consistent data windows. The 62% approval rate for Edgar J. Perkerson reflects all decisions on record since 2016, a period during which the bench at the Covington GA hearing office has seen approval rates ranging from 41% to 88%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have approached their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Perkerson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
The approval rate for Edgar J. Perkerson shifted between 2016 and 2017. In 2016, the approval rate was 60% across 402 decisions, followed by a rate of 69% across 112 decisions in 2017. This trend indicates variation in outcomes over the time frame captured in the SSA data.
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.
About the Covington GA hearing office
The Covington GA hearing office serves you if you are in Georgia and the surrounding region. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Covington GA
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Covington GA hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 41% to 88% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge maintains their own approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the broader office bench provides helpful context.
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
Edgar J. Perkerson has an approval rate of 62% based on 376 decisions on record since 2016. Across the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Covington GA, approval rates range from 41% to 88%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Edgar J. Perkerson was 60% in 2016 and 69% in 2017. These fluctuations are based on the 376 total decisions on record for this judge. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Your focus should remain on building a strong case with medical evidence, regardless of who is assigned to your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical and vocational evidence. You will likely testify about your limitations, and a vocational expert may provide testimony regarding your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your evidence is properly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. While it provides context on past patterns, the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in a decision. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
