Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your hearing. Judge Wirth’s 42% lifetime approval rate is measured against the Knoxville Hearing Office latest rate of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 6,447 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Wirth'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 5-year tenure, your judge's approval patterns have fluctuated, beginning at 45% in 2016 and reaching 49% in 2017 before trending to 32% in the most recent reporting period. This shift across 6,447 total decisions suggests that the judge's approach has evolved. The recent data reflects a departure from earlier years, which may be influenced by changes in case complexity or the specific medical evidence presented. Understanding these trends helps you focus on the strongest aspects of your claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wirth'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 Wirth? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Knoxville hearing office
The Knoxville Hearing Office serves a significant population across Tennessee, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 56%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can visit the Knoxville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Knoxville Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 42% to 67%. While you cannot choose your judge, knowing that your case will be heard by one of the judges at this office helps you prepare for the local standard.
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.