Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for what to expect during your hearing. Judge Roberson's 38% lifetime approval rate is measured against the latest Macon office average of 48% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from 5,253 lifetime decisions, offering a statistically significant view of their tenure. 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 Roberson'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 4 years on the bench, Judge Roberson has maintained a consistent approach to disability adjudication. After an initial approval rate of 38% in 2022, the data shows a shift to 32% in 2023, followed by a climb to 40% in 2024 and 41% in 2025. This trend suggests a stable decision-making environment that has remained relatively predictable throughout their tenure. The recent figures reflect a continuation of this steady pattern rather than a significant shift in judicial philosophy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Roberson'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 Roberson? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Macon hearing office
The Macon Hearing Office serves you across central Georgia, managing a high volume of disability cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 48%, which serves as a local benchmark for the region. You should expect a professional environment focused on the specific medical documentation of your impairment. You can visit the Macon Hearing Office page for more information.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. At the Macon Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 30% to 65%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of who is presiding. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.