Approval rates
The approval rate for Ronald J. Thomas is 39% based on 18,503 lifetime decisions. This figure is compared against the latest New Haven office average of 52% and the national average of 58%. These metrics provide a statistical look at how cases have been decided in this courtroom over the past decade. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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
Over 10 years on the bench, your judge's approval rate has remained relatively steady, showing minor fluctuations between 33% and 45% annually. While the latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 38%, this aligns with the long-term trend observed throughout the judge's tenure. This consistency suggests a stable approach to evaluating disability evidence. The recent data reflects a continuation of this established pattern.
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.
Hearing with Judge Thomas? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the New Haven hearing office
The New Haven Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Connecticut and parts of the surrounding region. It is staffed by 6 Administrative Law Judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 52%, reflecting the local landscape of SSDI adjudications. You can see the New Haven Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the New Haven office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 37% to 57%. Regardless of which judge is assigned to your case, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain consistent. You can find more information on the New Haven 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.