Approval rates
Comparing a judge's lifetime performance against recent benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. While the national average approval rate currently sits at 58%, Judge Reeves has maintained a 67% approval rate during the latest reporting period. This performance is 1 percentage point higher than the Dover office average. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 14,868 lifetime decisions, offering a look at historical trends.
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 Reeves'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 9 years on the bench, Judge Reeves has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. After an initial period of higher approval rates in 2017 and 2018, the data shows a transition toward a more moderate range between 2019 and 2021. Recent years have seen a steady uptick, with the latest period approval rate of 67% reflecting a continuation of this trend. This pattern suggests a judge who adapts to the evolving nature of the evidence presented in modern disability claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reeves'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 Reeves? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Dover hearing office
The Dover Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Delaware and the surrounding region. It is staffed by 6 judges who manage a high volume of cases, with the office-wide latest approval rate currently at 63%. You can expect a professional environment where the focus remains on the medical and vocational evidence supporting your claim. You can see the Dover Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Dover office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 42% to 91%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your own medical evidence is the most effective strategy. You can find more information on the Dover 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.