Golson, McCracken, Inc.

No Fee Unless We Win Your Case!

888.529.3678 919.294.4171

  • About Us
  • Social Security Disability
    • Help Nationwide
    • Denied SSD Benefits
    • Disability Hearing
    • Application Process
    • Appealing SSD Claim Denial
    • Medicaid / Medicare Benefits
    • Social Security Disability Benefits
    • Social Security Disability Insurance
    • Supplemental Security Income
    • Child & Adult Child’s Disability
    • Veterans Benefits in North Carolina
    • SSD & SSI Myths
  • Medicare Setup Assistance
  • Community Involvement
  • Resources
    • EBook
    • Blog
    • Video Center
    • SSD Judge Approval Rates by Hearing Office (2026)
  • F.A.Q.’s
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Do You Have
    a Claim?

    Do not feel as though you have to go through this process on your own. Find out if you qualify to receive benefits now.

    About SSD Eligibility
  • Proud Advocates
    for the Disabled

    Your choice in advocacy could be instrumental to the success of your case. Don’t put your financial benefits at risk!

    How We Can Help You
  • No Fees
    Until We Win

    Our ultimate goal is to maximize your approval and minimize any complication. You pay no fees unless we win!

    Get Started Today

This page shows the disability approval rate of every Social Security administrative law judge (ALJ) at the Tampa OHO hearing office, using official SSA data for fiscal year 2026 through August 28, 2026. Use it to understand what to expect if your disability hearing has been assigned to one of these judges.

Tampa OHO hearing office at a glance

  • Office approval rate: 58.5% (higher than the national average of 57.6%)
  • Judges: 13 listed, 13 with decisions this period
  • Decisions issued: 3,239 (1,667 fully favorable, 229 partially favorable, 1,343 denials)
  • Total dispositions: 3,929 (including 690 dismissals)
  • SSA region: 04

The highest approval rate at this office belongs to Carl C. McGhee (72.0%); the lowest belongs to Amber Downs (40.0%).

Approval rate by judge

Sorted from highest to lowest approval rate. “Difference” compares the judge to the 57.6% national average. Rates for judges with fewer than 50 decisions are marked as a small sample and should be read with caution.

Judge Fully Favorable Partially Favorable Denials Decisions Approval Rate Difference Note
Carl C. McGhee 216 21 92 329 72.0% +14.4 pts
Melissa J. McIntosh 225 37 114 376 69.7% +12.1 pts
Robert Ballieu 122 11 61 194 68.6% +10.9 pts
Gonzalo Vallecillo 87 17 59 163 63.8% +6.2 pts
Margaret Craig 171 19 112 302 62.9% +5.3 pts
Barbara Zanotti 183 24 131 338 61.2% +3.6 pts
Shirley Marzan 176 25 143 344 58.4% +0.8 pts
John Dawkins 166 24 169 359 52.9% -4.7 pts
Ryan Kirzner 151 29 176 356 50.6% -7.1 pts
Christopher Messina 1 0 1 2 50.0% -7.6 pts Small sample
Philip Healy 1 2 4 7 42.9% -14.8 pts Small sample
Glen H. Watkins 146 18 245 409 40.1% -17.5 pts
Amber Downs 22 2 36 60 40.0% -17.6 pts

How to read these numbers

Approval rate = (fully favorable + partially favorable decisions) ÷ total decisions. A fully favorable decision grants benefits from the date the claimant requested; a partially favorable decision grants benefits but with a later onset date or other limitation. Dismissals (for example, when a claimant withdraws or misses the hearing) are not decisions on the merits and are excluded from the rate.

A judge’s past approval rate is not a prediction for any individual case. Outcomes depend primarily on the medical evidence, the claimant’s work history, and how well the case is prepared and presented.

Frequently asked questions

What is the approval rate at the Tampa OHO Social Security hearing office?

In fiscal year 2026 through August 28, 2026, administrative law judges at the Tampa OHO hearing office approved 58.5% of the cases they decided (1,667 fully favorable and 229 partially favorable out of 3,239 decisions). The national average is 57.6%.

Which judge at the Tampa OHO hearing office has the highest approval rate?

Carl C. McGhee had the highest approval rate at 72.0% across 329 decisions.

How many judges work at the Tampa OHO hearing office?

SSA lists 13 administrative law judges at the Tampa OHO hearing office, 13 of whom issued decisions during the reporting period.

Where does this data come from?

All figures come from the Social Security Administration's public ALJ Disposition Data report, reporting period ending August 28, 2026. Approval rate is calculated as fully favorable plus partially favorable decisions divided by total decisions; dismissals are excluded.

Source: Social Security Administration, ALJ Disposition Data, reporting period ending August 28, 2026 (report generated 09/22/2026). SSA updates this dataset monthly. Last updated on this site: October 13, 2026.

  • Do You Have
    a Claim?

    Do not feel as though you have to go through this process on your own. Find out if you qualify to receive benefits now.

    About SSD Eligibility
  • Proud Advocates
    for the Disabled

    Your choice in advocacy could be instrumental to the success of your case. Don’t put your financial benefits at risk!

    How We Can Help You
  • No Fees
    Until We Win

    Our ultimate goal is to maximize your approval and minimize any complication. You pay no fees unless we win!

    Get Started Today

Social Security Disability
How Can We Help You?

  • Denied SSD Benefits
  • Disability Hearing
  • Application Process
  • Appealing a Claim
  • Medicaid / Medicare
  • Social Security Disability Benefits
  • Social Security Disability Insurance
  • Supplemental Security Income
  • Child & Adult Child's Disability
  • Veterans Disability
  • SSD & SSI Myths

Request Your
Free Case Consultation

    You pay nothing unless we win for you. Tell us about your case today!

    • HOME
    • SITEMAP
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • CONTACT US
    The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation.
    This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, a client relationship.
    Privacy Policy  |  Terms and Conditions
    Web Design & SEO by The Click Depot