Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 72% approval rate on record for Eric Schwarz since 2016 provides a baseline, while his latest-period approval rate of 76% offers a view of more recent activity. These figures are best understood against the broader bench at the Elkins Park office, where individual judge approval rates since 2016 range from 45% to 82%.
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
The approval trend for Eric Schwarz has remained steady since 2016, with yearly rates fluctuating between 68% and 76%. With 3,714 total decisions on record, the data shows a consistent approach to case evaluation. His latest-period approval rate of 76% is slightly higher than his long-term average, reflecting a stable approach to the evidence presented in your disability claim.
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.
About the Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park hearing office serves you and other claimants across Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. As of July 2026, this office remains the most recent office on record for 24 judges, maintaining an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Elkins Park
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Elkins Park office, and 10 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 45% to 82% since 2016.
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
Judge Schwarz has an approval rate of 72% on record since 2016, which sits within the 45% to 82% range observed among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Elkins Park. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with the standards applied in this office.
The approval rate for Eric Schwarz has remained steady, with yearly figures ranging from 68% to 76% over the last decade. His latest-period approval rate of 76% is consistent with his historical performance. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case for a hearing regardless of these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge 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 present your evidence clearly and effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Eric Schwarz has a 72% approval rate on record since 2016, every case is decided based on its unique medical and vocational facts. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim.
