Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 69% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 40% to 81% range established by the bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Albany. With 1,863 total decisions on record, this data provides a clear view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Sparks. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Sparks'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 Mary Sparks has fluctuated across the 1,863 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of high approval rates between 2016 and 2018, the data shows a decline in 2019 followed by a recovery in subsequent years. This pattern highlights how case outcomes can shift over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sparks'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 Albany hearing office
Mary Sparks's most recent office on record is the Albany hearing office, with decisions there through September 2022. This office serves claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 15 judges. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and work history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Albany
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Albany, with approval rates ranging from 40% to 81% on their since-2016 records. Eight of these judges decided cases in the most recent SSA file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Mary Sparks has a 69% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 40% to 81% range of the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Albany. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated. It was 78% in 2016, 89% in 2017, 89% in 2018, 37% in 2019, 56% in 2020, 62% in 2021, and 78% in 2022. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing typically involves testimony from you and potentially a vocational expert regarding your ability to work. The judge will review your medical records and evidence to determine if you meet the criteria for disability. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
The 69% approval rate on record since 2016 is a summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique and depends on the quality of medical evidence provided. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
