Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period. While the 48% approval rate since 2016 provides a long-term view, the latest-period approval rate of 48% is best compared against the latest-period benchmarks for the office, state, and nation. These figures are derived from 3,202 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 Sharrard'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 for Anne Sharrard has fluctuated over the 3,202 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of growth between 2016 and 2023, the trend has shown more variability. The latest-period approval rate of 48% aligns with the long-term average, suggesting a continuation of established decision-making patterns.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sharrard'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 Boston hearing office
Anne Sharrard's most recent office on record is the Boston hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 54%, which provides context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Boston
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. Approval rates for this bench range from 37% to 75% 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
Judge Sharrard's latest-period approval rate is 48%, which is 6 percentage points lower than the Boston office's latest-period rate of 54%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate has varied over time, ranging from 40% in 2017 to 62% in 2023. With 3,202 decisions on record since 2016, these fluctuations highlight why a thorough case review is essential for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Judge Sharrard has approved 48% of cases since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for the hearing.
