Approval rates
Judge Zanotti has maintained a lifetime approval rate of 57% over a significant docket of 19,400 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded an approval rate of 66%, which sits slightly below the current office and national averages of 58%. These figures provide a statistical look at past performance, though they do not guarantee future outcomes. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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
Over 10 years on the bench, Judge Zanotti has shown a clear upward trend in approval rates. Starting at 41% in 2016, the rate has climbed steadily, reaching 70% in 2025. This trajectory suggests a shift in the judge's recent decision-making environment compared to their earlier tenure. The latest period reflects a continuation of this upward pattern, which may be influenced by changes in case complexity or the quality of evidence presented. This trend highlights the importance of presenting a well-documented case.
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.
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Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Tampa hearing office
The Tampa Hearing Office serves a large population across Florida, managing a high volume of SSDI claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an average approval rate that aligns closely with national standards. Claimants appearing here should expect a professional environment focused on the specific medical and vocational evidence of their claim. See the Tampa 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Tampa Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 48% to 70%. Because of this variance, it is common for claimants to research their assigned judge to understand the local environment. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you're assigned.
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.