Approval rates
Judge Silverman maintains a lifetime approval rate of 51% based on 15,835 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate of 51% was lower than the Elkins Park office average of 60% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable look at his decision-making history. 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 Silverman'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 his 9 years on the bench, Judge Silverman has seen his approval rates fluctuate. His yearly approval rates have moved between 46% and 58%, showing a consistent approach to evaluating evidence. The most recent data indicates a rate of 51%, which aligns with his long-term career average. This pattern suggests a stable judicial approach that prioritizes the application of Social Security Administration guidelines.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Silverman'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 Silverman? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park Hearing Office serves you across the Pennsylvania region, managing a high volume of disability hearings. With a team of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide approval rate that reflects the diverse nature of cases heard in this jurisdiction. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Elkins Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Elkins Park Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 50% to 71%. While your specific judge is assigned randomly, the evidentiary requirements for your claim remain the same. You can find more information on the Elkins Park 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.