Approval rates
When evaluating your case, it is helpful to look at how Judge Wojciechowski compares to broader benchmarks. His lifetime approval rate of 53% is measured against the Phoenix Downtown office latest rate of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 11,033 lifetime decisions, providing a stable look at his historical decision-making. 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 Wojciechowski'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 6 years on the bench, Judge Wojciechowski has maintained a consistent decision pattern. His annual approval rates have shown movement, starting at 46% in 2016 and reaching 61% in 2021. This trend indicates that while his baseline is established, recent periods have seen an uptick in approvals. This variation may reflect changes in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence presented in recent years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wojciechowski'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 Wojciechowski? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Phoenix Downtown hearing office
The Phoenix Downtown Hearing Office serves a large population across Arizona, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 5 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 56% in the latest reporting period. You should expect a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Phoenix Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Phoenix Downtown office, the bench includes 5 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 30% to 53%. Because each judge brings a different perspective to the courtroom, the variance across the office is a standard part of the hearing process. You can find more information on the Phoenix Downtown 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.