Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While the 46% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, recent performance is measured against the latest reporting period. In the most recent period, the 50% approval rate sits 4 points below the Fort Worth Hearing Office average of 54%. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation.
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 Sampson'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 has fluctuated since 2016, showing a peak in 2017 followed by a period of relative stability. With 2,426 decisions on record, the data reflects a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim. While the latest-period approval rate of 50% is slightly higher than the long-term average, it is based on a limited number of recent decisions. This pattern suggests a steady judicial approach, with recent outcomes remaining generally aligned with historical decision-making trends.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sampson'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 Fort Worth hearing office
The Fort Worth Hearing Office, which is the most recent office on record as of July 2026, serves you and other claimants across the region. This office is part of a larger network of hearing locations in Texas, where bench approval rates vary significantly. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical evidence provided in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Worth
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 32% to 63% on their since-2016 records.
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
William E. Sampson's 46% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 32% to 63% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Worth Hearing Office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary requirements of this bench.
The approval rate has seen yearly variations, starting at 45% in 2016 and reaching 50% in the most recent partial period. These shifts are common in SSDI dockets and often reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality rather than a change in judicial philosophy. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence with an attorney is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. Having an attorney can help you organize your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. While William E. Sampson has approved 46% of cases on record since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical documentation supporting your disability. An attorney can help you review your file to ensure it meets the necessary standards for approval.
