Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall record since February 2023 shows a 45% approval rate, recent reporting periods provide a narrower view of current trends. By evaluating these figures against the 42% to 90% range of other judges at the Dover office, you can better understand the local bench. 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 Reiling'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 Bernadette Reiling has fluctuated across the 635 decisions on record since February 2023. After a 47% approval rate in 2023, the data shows a shift in 2024 followed by an increase in 2025, with the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period showing a 41% approval rate. This latest period reflects a departure from the previous year's peak, suggesting a return toward the judge's historical average. These patterns help illustrate how case outcomes have evolved over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reiling'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 serves you and other claimants throughout Delaware and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 6 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 59%. Understanding the local environment is a key step in preparing for your hearing. 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. There are 6 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dover office. Approval rates among this bench range from 42% to 90% based on their records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Bernadette Reiling has a 45% approval rate on record since February 2023. This sits within the 42% to 90% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Dover office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate has varied, starting at 47% in 2023 and reaching 41% in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. These fluctuations are common as case mixes and evidence quality change over time. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge at the Dover office. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
The 45% approval rate on record since February 2023 is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
