Do disability hearing win rates vary by state?

Yes.

SSD win rates vary state by state. Within each state they can vary by hearing office. Within each hearing office, they can vary drastically by ALJ.

Disability approval chances are heavily influenced by the SSA Grid Rules, but there are differences when looking at state disability approval statistics. Furthermore, the disability approval odds can vary quite a bit within a state depending on your disability hearing office.

Disability Qualification created an SSDI approval percentage infographic and we’ll continue to collect and analyze this data so you are ready for your disability hearing.

Should I move to a state with a better SSDI win percentage?

There really is not much of a point in trying to forum shop by moving from one state to another, as the retirement of one or two judges can have a significant impact on overall state or hearing office win percentages.

A few short years ago, Alaska was the worst state in the nation for disability claimants. That is not the case anymore.

What is the biggest factor influencing my state’s SSDI approval odds?

The win rate for your individual judge has a much bigger impact on your odds of winning than the state in which you reside. You can look up your judge’s win rate here.

All that being said, it is important to understand that these win percentages do not necessarily reflect your individual odds of winning. The biggest impact on whether or not you will win is the facts and circumstances of your individual case. The system is not perfect, but good cases usually win and bad cases usually lose.

How can I improve my chances of winning my disability hearing?

You can help make your case better by working when you are healthy, getting consistent medical treatment, obtaining RFCs from your treating doctors, and responding to disability questions timely, completely, and accurately.

You should also keep in mind that these percentages are only out of actual decisions rendered. Many claimants will request a hearing and for one reason or another, that hearing will never happen. Some clients go back to work while others decide that having a hearing is not worth it.

The percentage of favorable decisions out of all claimants who request a hearing is going to be lower.