Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's 57% approval rate covers all decisions on record since 2016, her latest-period rate of 62% provides a view into more recent activity. This latest-period figure sits 3 points above the Tampa OHO average of 59%. With 3,434 decisions on record, the data provides a look at past trends.
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 Zanotti'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, the approval rate for Barbara J. Zanotti has varied. After starting at 41% in 2016, the rate climbed to 67% in 2021 before stabilizing. The latest period shows a 62% approval rate, which remains consistent with her performance over the last several years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Zanotti'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 Tampa OHO hearing office
Barbara J. Zanotti's most recent office on record is the Tampa OHO, with decisions there through July 2026. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 59%, providing a benchmark for the local bench.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tampa OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tampa OHO, and 11 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 31% to 90% based 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
Judge Zanotti's latest-period approval rate of 62% is 3 points higher than the Tampa OHO average of 59%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time, starting at 41% in 2016 and reaching 68% in 2024. The current 62% rate reflects a steady pattern in recent years, and an attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated algorithm to distribute cases, and your assignment is random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. An attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
Approval rates are based on past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and an attorney can help you evaluate your claim's strengths and prepare for the hearing process.
