How to Look Up Your ALJ's Approval Rate

You can look up your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) approval rate directly on the Social Security Administration (SSA) website through public disposition data published by the Office of Hearings Operations. These public reports disclose total decisions, favorable awards, partial allowances, and dismissals for every active disability judge across the country.

When you receive a Notice of Hearing naming the judge assigned to your appeal, checking their statistical history is a common first reaction. However, understanding what these public numbers actually represent, and why a judge's historical average cannot predict the outcome of your individual claim, is essential for effective hearing preparation.

Where Public ALJ Outcome Data Comes From

The Social Security Administration operates one of the largest administrative adjudication systems in the world. Under federal open government policies and the Freedom of Information Act, SSA regularly publishes statistical datasets regarding hearing operations on ssa.gov.

The primary source for judge-level statistics is the Administrative Law Judge Disposition Data series, maintained by SSA Office of Hearings Operations (OHO). In fiscal years 2024 and 2025, SSA published these tables in both monthly snapshots and cumulative annual summaries. The files list every hearing office by region, followed by each individual ALJ assigned to that office during the reporting period.

In addition to individual judge metrics, SSA publishes the Hearing Office Average Processing Time and Disposition report. This regional data shows broader operational patterns, such as the total volume of pending requests, average wait times in days from hearing request to disposition, and overall allowance rates for each regional hearing office.

How to Read Public Disposition Reports

When looking at an ALJ disposition table, you will encounter several columns of data. Reading these numbers correctly requires distinguishing between total dispositions and actual substantive decisions.

The first major metric is Total Dispositions. A disposition includes every case closed by the judge during that fiscal year. Dispositions are divided into two fundamental categories: dismissals and substantive decisions on the merits.

Dismissals occur when a hearing request is terminated without a ruling on whether the claimant is disabled. Under 20 CFR 404.957, an ALJ may dismiss a hearing request if the claimant withdraws the appeal, fails to appear after receiving proper notice, or missed an earlier appeal deadline without good cause. Dismissals are not denials on medical merits, but they count toward total dispositions.

Substantive decisions are divided into three outcomes: Fully Favorable, Partially Favorable, and Unfavorable. A fully favorable decision finds the claimant disabled as of the alleged onset date. A partially favorable decision finds the claimant disabled, but establishes a later onset date or approves a closed period of disability. An unfavorable decision finds that the claimant was not disabled under Social Security law.

Public reporting sources often calculate approval percentages in different ways. Some divide favorable and partially favorable decisions by total dispositions, while others divide them only by substantive decisions. A judge with a high dismissal rate will show a lower allowance percentage if dismissals are included in the denominator, even if their rate of approving medical claims is typical.

Why a Judge's Average Says Little About Your Case

Reviewing a judge historical numbers can easily create unnecessary panic or false confidence. In administrative disability law, an ALJ overall average reveals almost nothing about the merits of your specific claim.

First, under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 556) and SSA operating procedures in HALLEX I-2-0-2, ALJs are independent, impartial adjudicators. Federal law prohibits SSA from imposing quotas, performance targets, or numerical allowance goals on judges. An ALJ does not have an allotted number of approvals or denials to distribute in any given month.

Second, every disability claim is governed strictly by the five-step sequential evaluation process set forth in 20 CFR 404.1520. The judge must examine whether you are working at substantial gainful activity, whether your impairments are severe, whether your condition meets or equals an impairment listed in 20 CFR Part 404 Subpart P Appendix 1, and whether your residual functional capacity (RFC under 20 CFR 404.1545) permits you to perform past relevant work or other jobs existing in significant numbers. A claim supported by thorough objective medical findings and consistent treating source opinions must be evaluated on its legal merits, regardless of the judge prior cases.

Third, docket variation significantly influences individual judge statistics. Hearing offices frequently reassign specialized dockets to specific judges. For example, some judges handle a higher proportion of remand hearings sent back from federal district court under 42 U.S.C. 405(g) or from the Appeals Council under 20 CFR 404.977. Remand dockets often involve complex legal issues that alter statistical distributions. Similarly, judges participating in the National Hearing Center (NHC) handle electronic transferred cases from regions experiencing extreme backlogs, where local demographic and employment profiles differ widely from their home office.

Fourth, administrative oversight keeps decisions tethered to regulatory standards. Under 20 CFR 404.970, the Appeals Council reviews ALJ decisions for legal error, abuse of discretion, and lack of substantial evidence. Judges who consistently issue denials unsupported by the medical record face frequent remands, while ungrounded allowances are subject to own-motion review under 20 CFR 404.969.

Can You Request a Different Judge Because of Approval Rates?

A common question among claimants who discover a low judge approval rate is whether they can request a transfer to another ALJ. Under Social Security regulations, the answer is an absolute no.

Under 20 CFR 404.940, an ALJ may not conduct a hearing if that judge is prejudiced or partial with respect to any party or has an interest in the matter. However, HALLEX I-2-1-60 makes clear that requesting disqualification or recusal cannot be based on a judge general judicial philosophy, statistical allowance rate, or rulings in past cases involving other claimants. The agency strictly prohibits "judge shopping" to ensure fairness and institutional order.

To seek recusal under 20 CFR 404.940, a claimant must file a formal written objection at the earliest opportunity, articulating specific, documented facts showing personal bias or conflict of interest. Examples of valid grounds include a personal financial interest in the outcome, a close family relationship with a party, or documented personal hostility toward the claimant outside the administrative proceeding. Statistical data from public reports is legally insufficient to support a motion for disqualification.

If you file an objection under 20 CFR 404.940, the assigned ALJ will consider the reasons and decide whether to proceed or withdraw. If the judge refuses to withdraw, you may raise that objection again before the Appeals Council if the final decision is unfavorable.

Constructive Ways to Use Judge Information

While you cannot change your assigned judge based on statistics, researching your ALJ can provide valuable practical insights for hearing preparation.

Experienced disability representatives use public records and hearing office knowledge to understand a judge preferred procedural workflow. For instance, some judges strictly enforce prehearing brief deadlines under HALLEX I-2-5-1, expecting concise legal summaries of the medical evidence prior to the hearing date. Knowing this allows your representative to submit a targeted brief highlighting key diagnostic evidence well in advance.

Other judges place heavy emphasis on the five-day evidence submission rule under 20 CFR 404.935. While all ALJs must apply this regulation, certain judges are particularly rigorous about excluding records submitted late without a showing of good cause. Reviewing a judge administrative habits reinforces the necessity of gathering all outstanding treatment records months before the hearing.

Additionally, hearing preparation can be tailored around how a judge interacts with expert witnesses. Some judges conduct extensive initial examinations of the Vocational Expert (VE) under 20 CFR 404.1566, while others allow the representative broader latitude for cross-examination. Understanding a judge typical hearing tempo helps your representative prepare specific hypothetical questions regarding off-task time and absenteeism to present to the VE.

Ultimately, hearing preparation should remain focused on the quality of your evidence. Documenting longitudinal medical care, obtaining functional capacity assessments from treating physicians, and delivering credible, concrete testimony about your daily limitations are the factors that decide your appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find my Social Security judge's approval rate? You can find public outcome records on SSA.gov under the Office of Hearings Operations administrative data section, which publishes monthly and annual ALJ Disposition Data.

Can I ask for a different ALJ if mine has a low approval rate? No. Under 20 CFR 404.940 and HALLEX I-2-1-60, SSA strictly prohibits judge shopping. You can only request disqualification if you prove specific personal bias, prejudice, or financial conflict.

Does an ALJ's average approval rate determine whether I will win? No. Every claim is decided under the five-step evaluation process in 20 CFR 404.1520 based strictly on your individual medical evidence, age, education, and residual functional capacity.

This article provides general information about Social Security Disability Insurance rules and is not legal advice. Program rules, filing procedures, and fee regulations change over time, and all standards reflect administrative guidance in effect in 2026. Consult a qualified representative or contact the Social Security Administration directly for guidance regarding your individual claim.