Approval rates
Judge Siegrist’s approval rate is calculated from 2,532 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, the judge approved cases at a rate 9 points higher than the national average of 58%. These figures are based on data from the SSA to help you understand the context of your upcoming hearing. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not 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 Siegrist'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 2-year tenure, Judge Siegrist has reached 2,532 lifetime decisions. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 69% in 2016 and 65% in 2017. This shift reflects the natural variance in case evidence presented during those periods. The latest data suggests a stable decision-making pattern that remains above the state and national averages.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Siegrist'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 Siegrist? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Atlanta Downtown hearing office
The Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office serves a large population across Georgia. With 6 judges on the bench, the office manages a high volume of SSDI claims with an office-wide latest approval rate of 64%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can visit the Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is selected randomly. The bench at this office is diverse, with lifetime approval rates for the 6 judges ranging from 23% to 69%. Because of this variance, you should focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of your assignment. You can find more information on the Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office page.
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.