Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. While Monica J. Anderson has a 47% lifetime approval rate, her latest-period rate of 44% sits 5 points below the New Orleans office average of 49%. These figures are drawn from a significant volume of cases, providing a clear view of historical trends. 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 Anderson'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 2016, Monica J. Anderson has presided over 3,105 lifetime decisions. Her yearly approval trend has fluctuated, showing a peak of 52% in 2025 before shifting to 44% in the latest period. This recent movement reflects a slight decline compared to her multi-year average. These patterns help illustrate how the judge has handled shifting caseloads over the last decade, though each hearing remains unique based on the specific medical evidence you present.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Anderson'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 New Orleans hearing office
The New Orleans hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a critical hub for disability adjudications in Louisiana. With a bench of 17 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 49%. You should expect a formal process focused on the medical documentation supporting your claim. You can see the New Orleans Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Monica J. Anderson is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 38% to 85% over their respective careers. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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
Monica J. Anderson's latest-period approval rate of 44% is 5 points lower than the New Orleans office average of 49%. While this provides context, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence in your file. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the specific standards expected in this office.
Yes, the judge's approval rate has seen variation, ranging from 37% in 2016 to a high of 52% in 2025, with the latest period at 44%. These shifts often occur due to changes in case volume or the complexity of claims. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively regardless of these trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random assignment algorithm to distribute cases among the judges at the New Orleans hearing office. Because you cannot control the assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. With 3,105 lifetime decisions on record, Monica J. Anderson's history is well-documented, but your case will be decided on its own merits. An attorney can help you evaluate your claim's strengths and weaknesses.