Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Stephen Thompson's 54% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a baseline, while latest-period figures offer a view of recent activity. These metrics are drawn from 3,676 total decisions. 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 Thompson'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 Stephen Thompson has fluctuated since 2016. With 3,676 decisions on record, the trend reflects a mix of outcomes that have shifted over the last decade. While the latest-period approval rate of 56% sits above the long-term average, the yearly data shows a varied pattern rather than a single direction. This recent activity reflects a continuation of the established decision-making history.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thompson'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 Macon hearing office
Stephen Thompson's most recent office on record is the Macon hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants across Georgia and maintains a bench of 13 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 46%, the Macon hearing office handles a high volume of disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Macon
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Macon hearing office, with 7 of them having decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 72% 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
Stephen Thompson's 54% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 31% to 72% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Macon. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Stephen Thompson has seen yearly variations since 2016, ranging from a low of 47% in 2019 to a high of 62% in 2016. These fluctuations are common in SSDI dockets and do not necessarily indicate a permanent shift in decision-making. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Because assignment is random, it is vital to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Stephen Thompson has a 54% approval rate on record since 2016, your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and identify potential gaps before your hearing.
