Social Security Disability Judge Approval Rates 2018-2024
Atticus offers free, high-quality disability advice for Americans who can't work. Our team of Stanford and Harvard trained lawyers has a combined 15+ years of legal experience, and have helped over 10,000 Americans apply for disability benefits.
Disability hearings are a normal part of the process if you're applying for SSDI or SSI. At a hearing, an administrative law judge (ALJ) should review your claim, ask questions about your condition, and talk to experts or witnesses (like the vocational expert) to help decide if they will approve your benefits. But each disability judge handles cases differently, and their approval rates vary significantly.
Using data from the Social Security Administration, Atticus analyzed the approval rates for all disability judges who held hearings in the past seven years. You can search for individual judges below. (If you're still waiting for a hearing, we also calculated average wait times here.)
Social Security disability judge approval rates in 2024
The overall disability judge approval rate in 2024 was 58%. That's slightly higher than 2023 and the highest rate since at least 2018 (when Atticus started analyzing judge data).
There were 1,221 judges assigned cases in 2024, and they made more than 207,000 hearing decisions. Both of those numbers are the lowest in the past seven years. There were also fewer hearing offices in operation than in previous years — 167 offices in 2024 compared with up to 170 in other years.
You can find 2024 approval data for all disability judges in the table below. If a judge isn't included, they didn't issue any decisions this year.
Related: 5 Reasons You Need a Lawyer for a Disability Hearing
Social Security disability judge approval rates in 2023
In 2023, the overall disability judge approval rate was 57%. That's a noticeable increase compared to the previous five years. There were a total of 1,251 ALJs assigned cases with just over 287,000 total hearing decisions made. Both of those numbers continue a recent trend of fewer judges and fewer cases heard each year.
You can find 2023 approval data for all disability judges in the table below. If a judge isn't included, they didn't issue any decisions this year.
Social Security disability judge approval rates in 2022
In 2022, the overall disability judge approval rate was 54%. That's an increase from 2021 but it's on par with total approval rates over the past five years. A total of 1,294 ALJs were assigned cases with just under 322,000 total claim decisions made.
You can find 2022 approval data for all disability judges in the table below. If a judge isn't included, they didn't issue any decisions this year. You can also read our full analysis of 2022 disability approval rates here.
Social Security disability judge approval rates in 2021
In 2021, the overall disability judge approval rate was 52%, the lowest rate in the past few years. A total of 1,362 ALJs were assigned cases with just over 415,000 total hearing decisions made. Those judge and hearing totals also represent a decrease from the previous few years.
You can find 2021 approval data for all disability judges in the table below. If a judge isn't included, they didn't issue any decisions this year.
Social Security disability judge approval rates in 2020
In 2020, the overall disability judge approval rate was 54%, which was about the same as in recent years. A total of 1,458 ALJs were assigned cases with just over 500,000 total claim decisions made.
You can find 2020 approval data for all disability judges in the table below. If a judge isn't included, they didn't issue any decisions this year.
Social Security disability judge approval rates in 2019
In 2019, the overall disability judge approval rate was 53%, slightly lower than in 2018. A total of 1,615 ALJs were assigned cases with almost 640,000 total hearing decisions made.
You can find 2019 approval data for all disability judges in the table below. If a judge isn't included, they didn't issue any decisions this year.
Social Security disability judge approval rates in 2018
In 2018, the overall disability judge approval rate was 54%. A total of 1,718 ALJs were assigned cases with more than 600,000 total hearing decisions made.
You can find 2018 approval data for all disability judges in the table below. If a judge isn't included, they didn't issue any decisions this year.
Frequently asked questions about disability hearings
What is an SSI or SSDI hearing?
A hearing is one of the key stages of appeal for Social Security disability. You present your case to a judge who can approve your benefits on the spot. It’s important to do as well as you can in the hearing because this is the last stage of appeal for almost all applicants. You can appeal a hearing denial, but it’s difficult and your chances of winning are low.
Do I need a lawyer for a disability hearing?
You don’t technically need a lawyer, but a good lawyer greatly increases your chances of winning benefits at the hearing. They’ll know the best way to present your case, how to answer a judge’s questions, and what questions to ask the vocational expert.
What are the chances of winning a disability hearing?
Based on a 2023 analysis by Atticus, people win benefits at their hearing 54% of the time. That’s a much higher approval rate than initial application and reconsiderations. Having a lawyer also triples your chances of winning a hearing.
Can I have my disability hearing over the phone?
Since the pandemic, many disability hearings happen virtually over the phone instead of in-person. That also means you can have a lawyer from another state (and it’s common to do so) because they don’t have to travel to your local courthouse.
Are there any signs that I won or lost my disability hearing?
Honestly, it’s best to ask your lawyer because they’ll know how the hearing went and potentially how the judge viewed your claim. Otherwise, it’s tough to say that any one thing — like a judge asking many or not very many questions — is a sure sign that you won or lost.
How long after my hearing will I get a decision?
You should expect to wait one to three months after an SSI or SSDI hearing for a decision. Some decisions will go faster, though. Your lawyer will have a clearer answer based on how your case and how the hearing went.
How long after my hearing will I get my back pay?
Once you get a hearing decision, you should get your first disability payment soon or even immediately. That first check will include all your back pay. If you have a lawyer, their fee will also come out of the check automatically so you don’t have to worry about paying them yourself.
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Derek Silva
Data Journalist and Content Lead
For Clients
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