Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks helps contextualize their decision-making history. Wilson maintains a lifetime approval rate of 45%, which trends 13 percentage points below the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 3,235 decisions, providing a view of past activity. 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 a two-year tenure, Wilson's approval rate shifted from 48% in 2016 to 41% in 2017. This change over 3,235 total decisions suggests an evolution in how evidence is evaluated. Such trends are common as judges refine their approach to case review. The data reflects a pattern that highlights the importance of a well-documented medical file for your hearing.
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? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Tacoma hearing office
The Tacoma Hearing Office serves a broad population across Washington, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 58%, aligning with national standards. You should expect a standard administrative process focused on the verification of your medical impairments. You can find more information on the Tacoma Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Tacoma Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 72%. This variance underscores why focusing on your own evidence is more productive than speculating about judge assignments. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent 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.