Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's 70% approval rate covers the entire period since 2016, recent performance shows a 78% approval rate during the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 27 percentage points higher than the office average of 51%. These figures provide context for your hearing, though 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 Aliberti'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
The approval trend for Louis Aliberti has shown movement since 2016. After starting at lower levels, the approval rate has generally trended upward, reaching 78% in the latest period. With 3,819 decisions on record, the volume of cases allows for a clear view of this progression. The recent figures suggest a period of higher allowance rates compared to the long-term average, which may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Aliberti'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 Cleveland hearing office
Louis Aliberti's most recent office on record is the Cleveland hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 22 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. The office-wide approval rate for the latest period is 51%. You can view the full roster of judges at the Cleveland hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cleveland
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 11 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 17% to 70% on their since-2016 records. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
In the latest reporting period, Louis Aliberti maintained a 78% approval rate, which is 27 percentage points higher than the 51% approval rate seen across the Cleveland office. While this indicates a variance in recent outcomes, your case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Louis Aliberti has shifted over time. Since 2016, the rate has trended upward, culminating in a 78% approval rate during the most recent period. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this judge's bench.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee for your specific hearing. While Louis Aliberti has a 70% approval rate on record since 2016, your success depends on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you evaluate how to best present your case.
