Approval rates
Judge Wordsworth maintains a 68% lifetime approval rate, which is higher than the national average of 58%. In the most recent reporting period, her 73% approval rate outperformed the Raleigh Hearing Office average of 62% by 6 percentage points. These figures are derived from a docket of 22,767 lifetime decisions, providing a view of her 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 Wordsworth'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 her 10 years on the bench, Judge Wordsworth has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. While her approval rate fluctuated between 63% and 70% during her early years, the data shows a recent trend, reaching 76% in 2024 and 74% in 2025. This recent performance remains higher than her long-term average. These trends reflect the judge's application of Social Security Administration standards to your case evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wordsworth'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 Wordsworth? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Raleigh hearing office
The Raleigh Hearing Office serves a large population across North Carolina, managing a volume of SSDI claims with a team of 6 administrative law judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 62%, which is lower than the state average of 66%. You can expect a professional environment where evidence quality is the primary driver of your case outcome. You can see the Raleigh Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your specific judge is typically selected at random. Across the Raleigh bench, lifetime approval rates vary, ranging from 40% to 69%. While you may be assigned to any of the 6 judges at this office, the fundamental requirements for proving your disability remain consistent. You can view the Raleigh Hearing Office page for more information on the local bench.
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.