Approval rates
The approval rate for Judge Spivey is calculated based on 5,373 lifetime decisions rendered during their tenure. When compared to the Atlanta North Hearing Office latest approval rate of 49%, Judge Spivey’s recent performance shows a variance of +19 percentage points. This data provides a statistical baseline for your case trajectory. 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 Spivey'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 3-year tenure, Judge Spivey has maintained a consistent approval rate of 68%. This stability is evident across reporting periods, showing that the judge’s approach to evaluating evidence has remained steady throughout their time on the bench. While your individual case outcome depends on the specific medical evidence you provide, this pattern suggests a predictable approach to the hearing process.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Spivey'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 Spivey? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Atlanta North hearing office
The Atlanta North Hearing Office serves a significant population across Georgia, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, this office operates within a regional framework to process applications. The office-wide latest approval rate currently stands at 49%, reflecting the diverse nature of cases heard in this jurisdiction. You can visit the Atlanta North Hearing Office page for more information.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is selected randomly. Within the Atlanta North Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 22% to 68%. This variance highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case can influence your hearing experience. You can view the full office roster on the Atlanta North 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.