Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. Your judge's 46% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 26% to 67% range observed among the bench at the Alexandria hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, your judge's 44% approval rate is 11 points lower than the office average of 55%. These figures are derived from thousands of decisions, providing a stable statistical baseline.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Able's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
Since December 2016, your judge has issued 3,242 decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates reaching a peak of 54% in 2023 before shifting to 44% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This recent figure is slightly lower than the long-term average of 46% on record. These variations in approval patterns often reflect changes in the specific mix of medical evidence or the complexity of cases presented during a given period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Able's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Alexandria hearing office
The Alexandria hearing office serves you and other claimants across Louisiana and the surrounding region. With a bench of 10 judges, this office maintained an office-wide approval rate of 55% in the latest reporting period. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical evidence supporting your disability claim. You can visit the Alexandria hearing office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Alexandria
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Alexandria hearing office, 7 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 26% to 67% since 2016.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Judge Able's 46% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 26% to 67% range seen across the Alexandria hearing office bench. While this provides a historical perspective, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary requirements of this judge's courtroom.
The approval rate has fluctuated over time, ranging from 43% in 2018 to a high of 54% in 2023, with the most recent partial year at 44%. Because these rates shift based on case mix and evidence, an attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare your testimony to meet the judge's expectations.
The 46% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past outcomes, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and an attorney can help you build a strong argument based on your specific medical history.
