Approval rates
The data below compares the lifetime approval rate of Lori J. Williams against the most recent performance metrics for the Florence Hearing Office, the state of South Carolina, and national averages. With a career spanning 19,454 lifetime decisions, these figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how this judge has historically evaluated claims. These rates reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your case.
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 Williams'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 decade on the bench, the approval rate for Lori J. Williams has shown periodic fluctuations while remaining within a stable range. The most recent data indicates a 50% approval rate, suggesting that the judge continues to apply a consistent evidentiary standard to the cases before her. This trend reflects a steady approach to the complex medical and vocational evidence you present in your SSDI hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Williams'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 Williams? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Florence hearing office
The Florence Hearing Office serves a broad population across South Carolina, managing a high volume of disability claims through a team of 6 administrative law judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 49%, which serves as a benchmark for the region. You should be prepared for a formal process centered on the documentation of your impairments under 20 CFR Part 404.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Florence Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 33% to 76%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your own medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare for your day in court.
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.