Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the full scope of a judge's career. Sheldon P. Zisook has a lifetime approval rate of 38% based on 2,107 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2020. This sits within the broader Phoenix office range of 32% to 78% for all judges on record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Zisook. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Zisook'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
The decision pattern for Sheldon P. Zisook shows a shift over the recorded period. Starting at 33% in 2016, the annual approval rate remained relatively steady before reaching 50% in 2020. This data covers 2,107 lifetime decisions, providing a consistent view of how cases have been handled. The recent uptick in the final year of the data window reflects a change in the volume and outcomes of cases heard.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Zisook'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 Phoenix hearing office
The Phoenix hearing office serves claimants throughout Arizona and the surrounding region. It maintains a bench of 12 judges on record, ensuring a steady flow of hearings for local residents. You can expect a professional environment focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Phoenix hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 12 judges on record at this office since 2016, 5 of whom are reported in the latest SSA period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 78% over their respective careers. You can view the full roster on the Phoenix hearing office page.
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
Sheldon P. Zisook has a lifetime approval rate of 38% across 2,107 decisions. This places him within the office-wide lifetime range of 32% to 78% for the 12 judges on record at the Phoenix office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific standards of this office.
Yes, the data shows a trend of increasing approval rates over the period from 2016 to 2020. While the rate began at 33% in 2016, it reached 50% by 2020. An attorney can help you evaluate how these historical trends might relate to the current evidence in your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, working with an attorney to prepare a robust case is the best way to ensure you are ready for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your disability.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of the medical evidence and how well it aligns with SSA regulations. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence and strengthen your case before your hearing date.