Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the 331 decisions on record since 2016 to understand their consistency. When comparing this to the broader bench, the range of approval rates among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Macon hearing office spans from 31% to 72%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Storey. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Storey'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 rate for Peter B. Storey remained steady between 2016 and 2018. With 190 decisions in 2016 and 171 in 2017, you saw approval rates of 73% and 71% respectively. This stability across the 331 total decisions on record suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Storey'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 Macon hearing office
The Macon hearing office serves you and other claimants across Georgia. This office includes 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Macon
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Macon hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 31% to 72% on their since-2016 records. While the judge you draw matters, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain the same.
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
Judge Storey has a 72% approval rate on record since 2016. This is at the top of the range for the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Macon hearing office, where rates vary from 31% to 72%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence to meet the specific standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Peter B. Storey held steady, moving from 73% in 2016 to 71% in 2017. With 331 total decisions on record, this consistency provides a clear view of the judge's historical pattern. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy based on these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions and procedures you will face at your hearing.
The 72% approval rate for Peter B. Storey is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it aligns with SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible before your hearing.
