Approval rates
Judge Aranda's approval rate is measured against the Miami OHO latest office average of 67% and the national average of 58%. With over a decade of experience, the data provides a look at how cases have been decided in this courtroom. These comparisons help you understand the broader context of your hearing. 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 Aranda'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 a 10-year tenure, Judge Aranda has seen fluctuating approval patterns. After an initial period of higher approval rates, the data shows a shift toward a more moderate range, with recent years reflecting a return toward the lifetime average of 57%. This trend suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence over the long term. The most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 62%, which may reflect changes in the specific mix of cases or the quality of evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Aranda'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 Aranda? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Miami Oho hearing office
The Miami OHO serves a large population in Florida, managing a high volume of disability claims. As one of the busier offices in the region, it maintains a steady flow of hearings to address the needs of local residents. The office currently reports an approval rate of 67%, reflecting the collective outcomes of its judges. You can visit the Miami OHO 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 Miami OHO, the bench features a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 50% to 78% across the office. This variance highlights why focusing on your own medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.