Approval rates
The approval rate for Daniel L. Rubini is based on 825 lifetime decisions, providing a clear look at his record since 2016. When compared to the broader bench at the Elkins Park office, where lifetime approval rates range from 33% to 82%, his 66% rate sits within the established local spectrum. This data reflects a significant volume of cases, offering a stable statistical baseline for your review. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Rubini. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Rubini'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
Since 2016, the approval trend for Daniel L. Rubini has remained steady, with yearly rates fluctuating between 64% and 69%. His record shows consistent decision-making patterns across 825 lifetime decisions, indicating a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim. While the yearly figures show minor variations, the overall pattern suggests a predictable consistency in how evidence is weighed. This steady trend provides a reliable baseline for understanding how your case may be evaluated.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Rubini'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 Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park hearing office serves claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 25 judges on record to manage the local caseload. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%, this location handles a high volume of disability hearings. You can expect a formal process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. See the Elkins Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Daniel L. Rubini is essentially random. There are 25 judges on record at this office since 2016, with lifetime approval rates varying widely from 33% to 82%. Because each judge has a unique approach to evidence, understanding the office-wide context is helpful. 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
Daniel L. Rubini has a 66% lifetime approval rate, which falls within the 33% to 82% range seen across the 25 judges on record at the Elkins Park office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with the expectations of this office.
The approval rate for Daniel L. Rubini has remained steady since 2016, with yearly performance consistently landing between 64% and 69%. This stability suggests a consistent approach to case evaluation, though every claim is unique. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses these specific patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and daily limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for this process to ensure your testimony is clear and accurate.
A 66% lifetime approval rate for Daniel L. Rubini provides context on his past decisions, but it is not a guarantee of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well your limitations are documented. An attorney can help you strengthen your evidence to give you the best chance of approval.