Approval rates
Judge Powers currently holds a 56% approval rate, which is 3 percentage points higher than the Johnstown office average and 1 point above the state average. While this rate is slightly lower than the national benchmark of 58%, it is based on a significant volume of 6,244 lifetime decisions. These figures provide a stable look at how cases have been decided in this courtroom. 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 Powers'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 the past 3 years, the approval rate for Judge Powers has shown a steady upward trend, moving from 53% in 2023 to 58% in 2025. This progression suggests a consistent evaluation process across 6,244 lifetime decisions. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 56%, which aligns closely with the judge's long-term performance. This pattern reflects a stable decision-making approach that has remained reliable throughout the judge's tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Powers'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 Powers? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Johnstown hearing office
The Johnstown Hearing Office serves you and other claimants throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a high volume of cases to ensure timely processing for those seeking benefits. The office-wide latest approval rate currently stands at 53%. You can expect a professional environment focused on the thorough review of medical and vocational evidence. See the Johnstown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Johnstown office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 32% to 81%. This variance highlights why it is important to focus on the strength of your own medical evidence regardless of the specific judge assigned. You can find more information on the office's general performance on the 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.