Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to regional and national benchmarks provides perspective on how cases are processed in the Seven Fields hearing office. While the national average currently sits at 58%, Judge Wood's recent performance shows a 74% approval rate. With a docket of 21,320 lifetime decisions, these figures offer a look at his decision-making history. These rates reflect past performance rather than predictions for your 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 Wood'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 decade on the bench, Judge Wood has seen his approval rates evolve, moving from 58% in 2016 to 73% in 2025. This trend suggests a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims as his tenure has progressed. While his latest reporting period shows a 74% approval rate, it is important to view this in the context of his long-term average. These fluctuations often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wood'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 Wood? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Seven Fields hearing office
The Seven Fields hearing office serves applicants throughout the Pennsylvania region, managing a high volume of disability cases. With a team of 6 judges, the office maintains an active docket to ensure timely hearings. The office currently reports an approval rate of 71%, reflecting the broader environment in which your case will be heard. You can view the Seven Fields 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Seven Fields bench, lifetime approval rates for judges range from 54% to 71%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the evidence, the specific judge assigned to your case is a factor in the process. You can find more information on the Seven Fields 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.