Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2016 is 74%, recent performance shows a 94% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 36 points above the office average of 58%. These statistics are based on a significant docket of 3,638 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Sullivan'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 Margaret M. Sullivan has shown an upward trajectory since 2016. After a period of fluctuation between 2018 and 2019, the approval rate began a consistent climb, reaching 93% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This latest-period performance represents a divergence from the 74% average observed over the full decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sullivan'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 Tacoma hearing office
Margaret M. Sullivan's most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the Washington region and maintains a bench of 17 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 58%, you can expect a review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 4 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. Approval rates among this bench range from 30% to 78% on their since-2016 records.
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
Margaret M. Sullivan has a 74% approval rate on record since 2016, while the bench of 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one ranges from 30% to 78%. In the latest reporting period, Margaret M. Sullivan approved 94% of cases, which is 36 points higher than the office's 58% latest-period average. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has trended upward over the last decade. Starting at 68% in 2016, the rate reached 93% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated, random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to have a representative who can help you prepare for any outcome. An attorney can help you navigate this process.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee for your specific hearing. While Margaret M. Sullivan's 74% rate since 2016 provides context, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational documentation in your file. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence meets the necessary standards.
