Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Watson, Nycole

PHILADELPHIA EASTPennsylvania Stable

-9.5 pts vs national average

48.2%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge48.2%

PHILADELPHIA EAST58.7%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

222

Fully favorable

33.3%

Partially favorable

14.9%

Denials

115

51.8%

Total dispositions

305

Dismissals

27.2%

Awards

107

3-year trend

Stable

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 33.3%Partially fav. 14.9%Denied 51.8%

Approval rate history

FY2016

61.1%90 dec

FY2017

43.5%255 dec

FY2018

34.7%271 dec

FY2019

42.5%374 dec

FY2020

40.3%315 dec

FY2021

45.8%308 dec

FY2022

40.7%268 dec

FY2023

43.2%190 dec

FY2024

41.9%241 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at PHILADELPHIA EAST (5)

Preston, Susan
256 dec72.3%
Wishnoff, Howard
228 dec71.9%
Grunberg, Hope
3 dec66.7%
Johnson, Jessica Marie
192 dec53.1%
Lazzaro, Michele
386 dec39.9%

Judges in Pennsylvania with the most decisions

Powers, Erin
JOHNSTOWN443 dec
Guida, Richard
HARRISBURG414 dec
Kleeb, Kelli J.
SEVEN FIELDS410 dec
Kooser, John
SEVEN FIELDS403 dec
Kauffman, Howard
HARRISBURG401 dec

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.