Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Charles Woode has a 39% approval rate since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 47%, which sits 4 percentage points below the St Louis office average of 51%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable statistical baseline.
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 Woode'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
Since 2016, your judge's approval rate has shown notable fluctuations. After a period of decline between 2019 and 2021, the data shows a more varied trend in recent years. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 47%, which diverges from the long-term average of 39%. This recent shift may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented at the St Louis hearing office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Woode'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 St Louis hearing office
The St Louis hearing office is the most recent office on record for Charles Woode as of July 2026. This office hosts a bench of 20 judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. You can see the St Louis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is St Louis
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the St Louis office, with 13 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates for this bench range from 30% to 78% on their records since 2016.
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
Charles Woode's 39% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 30% to 78% range observed among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is St Louis. Comparing judges helps you understand the local landscape, but an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Charles Woode has fluctuated over time, ranging from a low of 24% in 2020 to 45% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. These trends are based on 2,960 decisions on record since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to focus on building a strong case with an attorney regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your limitations.
