Approval rates
The approval rate for Jeffrey S. Wolfe is based on 1,800 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2020. This figure provides a statistical look at past activity compared to the range of 43% to 80% seen among the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These figures reflect historical data rather than a guarantee of any specific outcome.
Judge Wolfe is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Wolfe isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Wolfe'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
Jeffrey S. Wolfe's approval rate shows variation across the 1,800 decisions on record since 2016. The data indicates an approval rate of 76% in 2016, 83% in 2017, 81% in 2018, 80% in 2019, and 85% in 2020. These yearly fluctuations show the pattern of decisions across the recorded period ending in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wolfe'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 Tulsa hearing office
The Tulsa Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Jeffrey S. Wolfe as of September 2020. This office has a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Tulsa Hearing Office page for the full roster of judges.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa
Social Security Administration cases are assigned through a workload-balancing algorithm. Within the Tulsa Hearing Office, the 6 judges who decided cases in SSA's latest file range from 43% to 80% on their since-2016 records. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, though only 6 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Jeffrey S. Wolfe's 81% approval rate on record since 2016 sits at the higher end of the 43% to 80% range observed among the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with the standards of this office.
The approval rate for Jeffrey S. Wolfe fluctuated between 76% and 85% during the period from 2016 through 2020. These variations in past decisions are a matter of record, though they do not predict the outcome of any future case. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random assignment algorithm to distribute cases among the judges at the hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of a judge's past decisions and does not indicate how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
