Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While Jarrod Tranguch has an approval rate of 41% across 3,809 decisions on record since 2016, the office bench shows a range of 27% to 57% for the same period. In the most recent reporting period, the 38% approval rate sits 7 points below the Wilkes Barre office average of 45%.
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 Tranguch'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 Jarrod Tranguch has fluctuated across the 3,809 decisions on record since 2016. After reaching 47% in 2017, the rate saw a decline in 2019 and again in 2023. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 38% approval rate. This pattern shows that while your judge's decisions have varied year-to-year, the recent period reflects a continuation of this established trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Tranguch'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 Wilkes Barre hearing office
The Wilkes Barre hearing office is the most recent office on record for Jarrod Tranguch, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves claimants across Pennsylvania. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains an office-wide approval rate of 45% in the latest reporting period.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Wilkes Barre office, and 11 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among these peers range from 27% to 57% 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
Jarrod Tranguch has a 41% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the range of 27% to 57% observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with the patterns of judges in this office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over the 3,809 decisions on record since 2016. It reached 47% in 2017 and 29% in 2023, with the most recent 2026 data showing a 38% approval rate. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases via a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and often a vocational expert or medical expert will be present to discuss your work history and functional limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
The 41% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your specific hearing.
