Approval rates
Comparing a judge's history to broader benchmarks provides a clearer picture of their typical decision-making. Judge Alderisio maintains a 65% lifetime approval rate, which currently tracks 2 percentage points above the St Petersburg FL office average and 7 percentage points above the national average. With over a decade of experience and a high volume of cases, this data offers a stable look at his judicial record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Alderisio'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
Over his 10 years on the bench, Judge Alderisio has shown a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims. While his approval rate saw a notable peak in 2020, the yearly trend has remained relatively stable, with the most recent data showing a 67% approval rate in 2025. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates your case based on the evidence presented in your unique file. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, indicating that his approach to disability criteria remains well-aligned with his long-term record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Alderisio'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.
Hearing with Judge Alderisio? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the St Petersburg FL hearing office
The St Petersburg FL Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants across Florida, managing a high volume of cases with a team of 6 ALJs. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 63%, reflecting the regional trends in disability adjudication. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the St Petersburg FL Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the St Petersburg FL office, the bench includes 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 38% to 75%. This variance highlights why it is important to focus on the strength of your own medical evidence regardless of who is assigned to your hearing. You can find more information on the St Petersburg FL Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.