Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your judge's 39% approval rate covers the entire period since 2016, recent performance is measured against the latest reporting period. In the most recent period, your judge's approval rate was 34%, compared to 47% for the office, 54% for the state, and 58% nationally. These figures are based on 3,264 decisions on record. 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 Thomas'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 Ronald J. Thomas has fluctuated since 2016. After reaching 46% in 2018, the annual approval rate shifted, reaching 34% in the most recent period. This recent trend reflects a continuation of the patterns seen in preceding years. Your case outcome remains sensitive to the specific evidence you present in your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thomas'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 New Haven hearing office
The most recent office on record for Ronald J. Thomas is the New Haven Hearing Office, which serves claimants across Connecticut. This office maintains a bench of 8 judges, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate was 47%. You can expect a formal hearing process where your evidence quality is the primary driver of the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New Haven
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 5 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 36% to 58% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Ronald J. Thomas has a 39% approval rate on record since 2016. Across the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the New Haven office, approval rates range from 36% to 58%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Ronald J. Thomas has varied over time, starting at 42% in 2016 and reaching 34% in the most recent period. These fluctuations are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures the process remains random. Because you cannot select your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your disability. Having an attorney present can help you navigate these questions and ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Ronald J. Thomas has a 39% approval rate since 2016, every case is decided on its own merits and the quality of the evidence you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare effectively for your hearing.
