Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Linda D. Taylor has a 42% approval rate since 2017, her latest-period approval rate of 46% sits 8 points below the Savannah office's latest-period average of 54%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 2,556 decisions on record, providing a stable view of past activity.
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 Taylor'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
Since 2017, Linda D. Taylor's approval rate has shown fluctuations, moving from 63% in 2017 to a more consistent range in recent years. With 2,556 total decisions on record, the data reflects a period of adjustment followed by relative stability. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 46%, which remains below the office, state, and national averages.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Taylor'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 Savannah hearing office
Linda D. Taylor's most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office. This office is part of a regional network that handles a high volume of disability claims. With 14 judges on the bench, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 54%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Savannah
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah office, with 5 of them deciding cases in the latest file. Approval rates among this bench range from 36% to 81% on their records since 2016.
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
Linda D. Taylor's 42% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the 36% to 81% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Savannah. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this office.
Linda D. Taylor's approval rate has varied over time, starting at 63% in 2017 and settling into a more consistent pattern in recent years. Her latest-period approval rate is 46%, which is a useful data point when discussing your case strategy with a qualified attorney.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain random and impartial. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, which an attorney can help you strengthen.
