Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the overall record since 2016 shows a 73% approval rate, recent performance provides a more current snapshot. In the latest reporting period, Mary Ryerse approved 81% of cases, which is 10 percentage points higher than the Charlotte office average of 71%. These figures are based on a substantial volume of decisions, providing a statistical foundation for your review.
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 Ryerse'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 trend for Mary Ryerse has shown an upward trajectory since 2016. After a period of fluctuation between 2016 and 2021, the approval rate began a steady climb, reaching 83% in 2025. The latest data from 2026 shows an 81% approval rate, which remains above the long-term average of 73%. This recent performance reflects a consistent pattern of decision-making.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ryerse'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 Charlotte hearing office
Mary Ryerse's most recent office on record is the Charlotte hearing office, which serves you across North Carolina. This office is home to 18 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 71%, you can expect a review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charlotte
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this group vary significantly, ranging from 29% to 83% on their records since 2016. 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
In the latest reporting period, Mary Ryerse's 81% approval rate sits 10 percentage points above the Charlotte office average of 71%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards Mary Ryerse has established on her record.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend. While the approval rate was 70% in 2016, it reached 81% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might influence the presentation of your medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions Mary Ryerse or other judges often ask during these proceedings.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how Mary Ryerse will rule on your specific claim. The strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
