Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Claudia Rosen-Underwood compared to the performance of peers at the same office. These figures are based on 767 decisions on record since 2016. The range of 36% to 63% represents the performance of the 5 judges currently active in the latest SSA file. These aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Rosen-Underwood is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Rosen-Underwood isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Rosen-Underwood'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
Claudia Rosen-Underwood's approval rate has fluctuated across the 767 decisions on record since 2016. The data shows a rate of 61% in 2016, 64% in 2017, 52% in 2018, 67% in 2019, and 73% in 2020. These figures reflect the total decisions finalized in each calendar year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Rosen-Underwood'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 Phoenix North hearing office
The Phoenix North Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for 13 judges. Claimants can expect a standard administrative process focused on the evaluation of medical evidence and vocational factors. You can find the full roster of judges on the Phoenix North Hearing Office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Phoenix North
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Phoenix North, 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 5 judges range from 36% to 63% on their since-2016 records. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Claudia Rosen-Underwood has a 62% approval rate on record through 2020. This sits within the 36% to 63% range of the 5 judges who decided cases at the Phoenix North office in the latest SSA file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this office.
The rate has moved over time, starting at 61% in 2016 and reaching 73% in 2020. These yearly fluctuations are based on 767 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these past patterns might relate to your upcoming hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Phoenix North office. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to you.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you provide testimony about your limitations. The judge will review your medical records and may hear from vocational or medical experts. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
Approval rates are a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony presented in your file. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible before your hearing.
