Approval rates
The data shows a contrast between the lifetime approval rate of 35% for Judge Wilson and the 65% approval rate currently seen across the Greenville Hearing Office. When compared to the 58% national average, these figures highlight the variance inherent in the Social Security Administration hearing process. With a docket spanning 12,951 lifetime decisions, the statistical sample is robust enough to observe consistent patterns. 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 Wilson'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 his 8 years on the bench, Judge Wilson has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. While your approval rate saw a slight rise to 40% in 2022, the overall trend remains steady, reflecting a disciplined adherence to evidentiary standards. This pattern suggests that the judge prioritizes specific documentation and medical testimony when evaluating your eligibility. Recent fluctuations in the data may reflect shifts in the complexity of cases assigned to his courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wilson'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 Wilson? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Greenville hearing office
The Greenville Hearing Office serves a significant population across South Carolina, managing a high volume of disability claims with a team of 6 administrative law judges. You face a rigorous review process at this office, with the office-wide latest approval rate currently at 65%. Understanding the local procedural norms is essential for your successful hearing. You can see the Greenville 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 selected randomly rather than by request. Across the Greenville Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates for the bench range from 35% to 65%, illustrating that the specific judge assigned to your case can influence the hearing environment. You can find more information on the office's general trends by visiting the Greenville 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.