Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent periods to ensure accuracy. While the Greensboro office-wide lifetime approval range spans from 50% to 89%, Maria L. Spitz maintains a lifetime approval rate of 85% across 816 decisions. In the latest reporting period, she holds an 85% approval rate, which sits 20 points above the office-wide latest-period average of 65%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your case.
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 Spitz'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 record for Maria L. Spitz spans from 2023 to 2026, showing a consistent approval pattern. After an initial period, her approval rate has remained steady at 85% throughout the 2025 and 2026 reporting cycles. This stability suggests a predictable approach to case evaluation within her courtroom. The latest period reflects a 66% fully-favorable rate and a 15% denial rate.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Spitz'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Greensboro hearing office
The Greensboro hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a critical hub for disability adjudication in North Carolina. With a bench of 16 judges on record, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 65%. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Greensboro Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges on record at this office since 2016, 8 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 50% to 89% over their respective careers. You can review the full office roster on the Greensboro hearing office page.
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
Maria L. Spitz maintains an 85% lifetime approval rate, which is at the higher end of the 50% to 89% range seen among the 16 judges on record at the Greensboro office. In the latest reporting period, her 85% approval rate is 20 points higher than the office-wide average of 65%. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might impact your specific case strategy.
The data for Maria L. Spitz shows a steady approval pattern. Since 2024, her annual approval rate has remained consistent at 88% and 85%, indicating a stable approach to your caseload. Understanding this consistency can be helpful when preparing your evidence, and an attorney can help you tailor your presentation to meet the standards of her courtroom.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a randomized workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency and fairness. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome by working with a qualified professional. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
An approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of how Maria L. Spitz will rule on your specific claim. While her 85% lifetime rate provides context, the ultimate outcome depends on the strength of your medical evidence and vocational testimony. An attorney can help you build a robust case that addresses the specific requirements of the hearing process.