Approval rates
Samuel Thomason maintains a 64% approval rate on record since 2023. In the most recent reporting period, his 64% approval rate aligns with the office-wide average, while sitting 8 percentage points above the Texas state average and 6 points above the national average. These figures are derived from 1,289 decisions on record since 2023.
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 Thomason'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 2023, Samuel Thomason has issued 1,289 decisions. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 71% in 2023, 64% in 2024, 62% in 2025, and 65% during the partial 2026 fiscal year. This pattern indicates a consistent approach to case adjudication over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thomason'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 Dallas North OHO hearing office
Samuel Thomason's most recent office on record is the Dallas North OHO, with decisions there through July 2026. With 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 64%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dallas North OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Dallas North OHO, there are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench range from 24% to 88% on their respective 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
Samuel Thomason's 64% approval rate on record since 2023 sits within the broader range of 24% to 88% seen among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas North OHO. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Samuel Thomason's approval rate has remained steady, moving from 71% in 2023 to 65% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. While these numbers provide context, your specific medical evidence is the most important factor in your case. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, and you cannot choose your judge. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
A hearing typically involves testimony from you, and sometimes a vocational or medical expert, regarding your ability to perform work. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare for the questions the judge may ask.
The 64% approval rate on record since 2023 reflects Samuel Thomason's past decisions, but it is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and an attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
