Approval rates
The 42% approval rate for Andrea L. Wirth reflects all decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 13% to 77% observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Knoxville Hearing Office. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Wirth. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
The 970 decisions on record for Andrea L. Wirth since 2016 show a fluctuating trend. After an approval rate of 42% in 2016, the figure was 53% in 2017, 37% in 2018, 41% in 2019, and 32% in 2020. This pattern indicates that approval activity has varied over the recorded period.
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.
About the Knoxville hearing office
Andrea L. Wirth's most recent office on record is the Knoxville Hearing Office, which serves you if you are in the region. This office maintains a bench of 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on the medical documentation supporting your disability claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Knoxville Hearing Office, with approval rates ranging from 13% to 77% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, the judge you draw matters.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Andrea L. Wirth has an approval rate of 42% across 970 decisions on record since 2016. This falls within the 13% to 77% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Knoxville Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows variation in the approval rate for Andrea L. Wirth. While the rate was 42% in 2016, it reached 53% in 2017 before trending to 32% in 2020. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific case evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have your case fully prepared regardless of which judge is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal administrative proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
The 42% approval rate for Andrea L. Wirth is a historical average, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim.
