Bestul, Joseph
Covington, GA · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Hearing Approval Rate
54.6%
Above the national average of 48.7%
Disability judges hear appeals after an initial claim is denied. Judge Bestul approves 54.6% of cases — knowing your judge’s track record helps you and your representative prepare. How to prepare for your hearing →
How Judge Bestul Decides Cases
Nat'l avg: 48.7%
Nat'l avg: 35.1%
Nat'l avg: 16.2%
Know Your Numbers
Judge Bestul approved 54.6% of dispositions. That’s 5.9 percentage points above the national average of 48.7%. Bestul decided 311 cases out of 355 total dispositions. Under SSA’s methodology (excluding dismissals), the approval rate is 62.4%. Knowing your judge’s track record can help you prepare for your hearing.
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Get Your Free GuideDetailed Case Counts— Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Total Cases
355
Approved
194
Denied
117
Hearing Office
Covington (GA)
8.0 months wait · 1,934 pending
Whether your judge's approval rate is high or low, the strongest factor in your outcome is the quality of your medical evidence and whether you have representation. How judge approval rates vary nationally →
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Appearing before Judge Bestul?
Claimants with representation are approved at nearly 3× the rate. A free case evaluation takes less than two minutes — and it could change the outcome of your claim.
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