Approval rates
Judge Schwarz maintains a lifetime approval rate of 71%, which is higher than the current national average of 58% and the Elkins Park office average of 60%. This data is derived from 21,247 lifetime decisions. Comparing these figures to state and national benchmarks helps you understand the broader context of your hearing. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than serving as predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Schwarz'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
Over a 10-year tenure, Judge Schwarz has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. While annual approval rates have fluctuated between 68% and 77%, the judge has maintained a steady output of decisions. The most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 73%, which aligns closely with the long-term lifetime average. This stability reflects a continuation of established patterns in case evaluation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Schwarz'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.
Hearing with Judge Schwarz? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park Hearing Office serves a large population across Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of cases with a team of 6 administrative law judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 60%, which serves as a local benchmark for disability claims in the region. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence supporting your claim. You can visit the Elkins Park Hearing Office page for more information on the local roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. At the Elkins Park Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 50% to 71%. Because you cannot choose your judge, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical evidence and the completeness of your file.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.