Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same time period. While Jarrod Tranguch maintains a lifetime approval rate of 41%, your judge's latest-period approval rate is 38%, which sits 7 percentage points below the current Wilkes Barre office average of 45%. These figures are derived from a large docket of 3,809 lifetime 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 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
Since 2016, the decision pattern for Jarrod Tranguch has shown fluctuations. After a period of higher approval rates in 2016 and 2017, the data shows a shift in 2019 and a subsequent low in 2023, followed by a recent stabilization. With 3,809 lifetime decisions on record, these trends reflect the evolving nature of your judge's caseload. The latest period shows a rate of 38%, which represents a continuation of the recent, more moderate approval 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 serves you throughout the region, operating as a key hub for Pennsylvania disability hearings. The office maintains a bench of 13 judges on record, reflecting a diverse range of decision-making patterns. With a latest-period office-wide approval rate of 45%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Wilkes Barre Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. The Wilkes Barre office features 13 judges on record since 2016, with 11 judges currently reporting in the latest period. Across this bench, lifetime approval rates range from 27% to 57%. For your preparation, 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
Jarrod Tranguch has a lifetime approval rate of 41%, which sits within the broader office-wide range of 27% to 57%. Because case assignment is random, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the high standards of proof required for a favorable decision.
Yes, the data shows that the approval rate for Jarrod Tranguch has shifted since 2016, moving from higher levels in the early years to a more moderate 38% in the latest reporting period. These shifts often reflect changes in case volume or the complexity of the evidence presented. An attorney can help you understand how to present your specific medical records effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Wilkes Barre office. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to build a comprehensive case file is the best way to prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert testify before the judge. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions to determine your functional capacity. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of your outcome. While the 41% lifetime rate for Jarrod Tranguch provides context, your success depends primarily on the medical evidence supporting your disability claim. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your evidence to strengthen your position.