Approval rates
Comparing Robert Rideout's performance requires looking at both long-term records and recent trends. Since 2016, the judge has maintained a 71% approval rate, which sits within the 27% to 74% range seen across the Raleigh bench. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 71% approval rate outperformed the office average of 61% by 10 percentage points. These figures are based on 2,104 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Rideout'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 Robert Rideout has shown variability since 2016, with a peak in 2023 at 83% before trending toward 70% in the most recent partial fiscal year. With 2,104 total decisions on record, the judge's pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence. The latest period's 71% approval rate aligns closely with the long-term average, suggesting a stable decision-making process.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Rideout'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 Raleigh hearing office
The Raleigh hearing office serves you across North Carolina and is part of a regional network of SSA facilities. This office hosts a bench of 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Raleigh
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Raleigh hearing office, 10 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 27% to 74% since 2016.
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
Robert Rideout's 71% approval rate since 2016 is at the higher end of the 27% to 74% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Raleigh. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific expectations of this bench.
The judge's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a low of 61% in 2019 to a high of 83% in 2023. As of the latest partial fiscal year, the rate is 70%, which is consistent with the long-term average of 71% across 2,104 decisions on record. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific expectations of this bench.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, meaning you cannot choose your ALJ. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and physical limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. While Robert Rideout has approved 71% of cases since 2016, every case is decided on its own merits and evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim and prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
