Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes. While Scot Septer has a 56% approval rate on record since 2017, his latest-period approval rate of 62% sits 4 percentage points below the Fresno office's latest-period average of 66%. These figures are drawn from 2,944 decisions on record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your 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 Septer'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 2017, Scot Septer has issued 2,944 decisions. While the rate remained between 51% and 55% for much of the early record, recent data shows an increase to 62% in the latest period. This shift indicates that your judge's recent decision-making pattern has moved above his long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Septer'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 Fresno hearing office
Scot Septer's most recent office on record is the Fresno hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 6 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 66%, you may face complex evidentiary requirements during your hearing.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fresno
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. At the Fresno hearing office, there are 6 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench range from 36% to 72% on their records since 2017.
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
Scot Septer has an approval rate of 56% on his record since 2017. This sits within the range of 36% to 72% seen among the 6 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fresno hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare a case strategy tailored to the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a rising trend in recent years. While his approval rate was 54% in 2017, it reached 62% in the most recent fiscal period. If you are concerned about how these trends affect your claim, an attorney can help you evaluate your evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm 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 evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you practice your testimony and organize your medical records to present the strongest possible case.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. Factors like the quality of your medical evidence and the clarity of your testimony often carry more weight than a judge's historical average. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your medical evidence before your hearing.
