Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for what to expect during your hearing. Judge Volkman's 67% lifetime approval rate is higher than the 55% latest office average and the 58% national average. These figures are derived from 1,462 lifetime decisions, offering a look at past trends. 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 Volkman'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 a one-year tenure, Judge Volkman has maintained a steady approval pattern. With 1,462 lifetime decisions on record, the data reflects a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim. The 67% approval rate remains stable, suggesting a predictable decision-making style. This consistency helps in understanding how evidence is weighed, and the recent period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Volkman'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 Volkman? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Philadelphia hearing office
The Philadelphia Hearing Office serves a large population across Pennsylvania, managing a high volume of SSDI claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 55%, this location handles a diverse range of medical and vocational evidence. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on the specific requirements of 20 CFR Part 404. See the Philadelphia Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is typically selected at random. Across the Philadelphia Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 41% to 70%. This variance highlights why understanding the local bench is useful for your preparation. You can find more information on the Philadelphia Hearing Office page.
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.