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Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Hess, Thaddeus J.

+8.5 pts vs national average

66.2%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge66.2%
GREENVILLE58.1%
National avg57.7%

Total decisions

468

Fully favorable

267

57.1%

Partially favorable

43

9.2%

Denials

158

33.8%

Total dispositions

541

Dismissals

73

13.5%

Awards

310

3-year trend

Falling

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.
Partial
Denied
Fully fav. 57.1%Partially fav. 9.2%Denied 33.8%

Approval rate history

FY2011
70.7%491 dec
FY2012
68.8%581 dec
FY2013
68.2%598 dec
FY2014
64.5%456 dec
FY2015
56.5%558 dec
FY2016
61.0%464 dec
FY2017
57.2%435 dec
FY2018
56.7%457 dec
FY2019
57.5%529 dec
FY2020
67.7%434 dec
FY2021
58.2%349 dec
FY2022
70.6%286 dec
FY2023
63.3%286 dec
FY2024
63.1%336 dec
Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at GREENVILLE (8)

Judges in South Carolina with the most decisions

Next step

Estimate approval odds

See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.