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SSA Hearing Office

Columbia, SC Hearing Office

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Most Favorable Judges

Columbia, SC

1 Conover, Arthur L
Approval Rate
67%
Full Approval
57%
Total Decisions
20,031
2 Christian, Frederick W
Approval Rate
66%
Full Approval
56%
Total Decisions
14,984
3 Shoenholz, Jonathan T
Approval Rate
65%
Full Approval
52%
Total Decisions
18,696
4 Fleming, Ronald
Approval Rate
61%
Full Approval
67%
Total Decisions
22,032
5 Garves, Brian
Approval Rate
60%
Full Approval
51%
Total Decisions
23,522
6 Daniels, Christopher R
Approval Rate
59%
Full Approval
50%
Total Decisions
30,542
7 Herin, Jr., Walter C
Approval Rate
56%
Full Approval
50%
Total Decisions
23,540
8 Vinson, Flora L
Approval Rate
53%
Full Approval
25%
Total Decisions
20,047
9 Capece, Anthony
Approval Rate
52%
Full Approval
43%
Total Decisions
4,883
10 Elkin, Paul
Approval Rate
51%
Full Approval
44%
Total Decisions
26,188
11 Vineyard, Joshua
Approval Rate
50%
Full Approval
40%
Total Decisions
19,370
Rank Judge Approval Rate Full Approval Total Decisions
1Conover, Arthur L 67% 57% 20,031
2Christian, Frederick W 66% 56% 14,984
3Shoenholz, Jonathan T 65% 52% 18,696
4Fleming, Ronald 61% 67% 22,032
5Garves, Brian 60% 51% 23,522
6Daniels, Christopher R 59% 50% 30,542
7Herin, Jr., Walter C 56% 50% 23,540
8Vinson, Flora L 53% 25% 20,047
9Capece, Anthony 52% 43% 4,883
10Elkin, Paul 51% 44% 26,188
11Vineyard, Joshua 50% 40% 19,370

Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer

SSDI hearing approval rates — with a lawyer vs. on your own

WITHOUT A LAWYER
1×
baseline approval rate
Applicants without a lawyer
WITH A LAWYER
~3×
higher approval rate
Applicants with a lawyer
Check My Benefits

Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37 — analysis of SSA ALJ adult disability decisions, FY 2007–2015. Applicants with a lawyer got approved at a rate nearly three times higher than those without. Individual case outcomes vary based on medical evidence, the specific judge, and quality of representation. Checking whether you qualify for a free benefits review takes 2 minutes.

Wait Time Trend

Average months from hearing request to decision — last 16 months

Wait (months)
02468Jun '24Sep '25

Nearest SSA Field Offices

Where to apply or check on your claim in person

Aiken, SC
151 CORPORATE PKWY, AIKEN, SC 29803
Anderson, SC
4 CIVIC CTR BLVD EXT, ANDERSON, SC 29625
Beaufort, SC
646 ROBERT SMALLS PKWY, BEAUFORT, SC 29906
Bennettsville, SC
1028 CHERAW ST, BENNETTSVILLE, SC 29512
Charleston, SC
1463 TOBIAS GADSON BLVD, CHARLESTON, SC 29407

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Only 34.1% of first-time SSDI applications get approved in South Carolina.

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Frequently Asked Questions

About This Data

Statistics come from SSA's Office of Hearings Operations reports and publicly available judge decision data. Approval rates count both full and partial approvals. Wait times reflect the average from hearing request to decision. Data is based on 2025-09-26 reports and may not reflect current conditions. This page is for informational purposes only.

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ClaimsBoost is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ClaimsBoost is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration or any government agency. Performance scores, rankings, and statistics displayed on this site are calculated by ClaimsBoost using publicly available government data from the SSA. Individual results may vary. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice or a guarantee of benefits. If you need legal help, we can connect you with licensed attorneys or accredited representatives in your area.