Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The judge's 85% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a clear view of past activity, which can be measured against the 24% to 94% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta North hearing office. These figures rely on a volume of 253 decisions to provide statistical context. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Auerbach. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Auerbach'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 rate for Larry A. Auerbach showed a shift during the period of 2016 to 2017. Starting with a 92% approval rate over 29 decisions in 2016, the rate moved to 85% across 224 decisions in 2017. This pattern reflects the judge's activity during the window of August 2016 through September 2017.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Auerbach'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 Atlanta North hearing office
The Atlanta North hearing office serves you if you are in the region. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta North hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 24% to 94% on their since-2016 records. While you cannot choose your judge, understanding the range of outcomes at this office provides helpful context for your hearing.
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
Larry A. Auerbach's 85% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 24% to 94% range observed among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta North hearing office. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The judge's approval rate was 92% in 2016 and 85% in 2017. These figures represent the judge's activity during the recorded window of August 2016 through September 2017. An attorney can help you evaluate how your specific medical evidence aligns with current standards.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot request a specific judge, but an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily activities and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your ability to demonstrate how your condition prevents you from working. An attorney can help you build the most effective case possible.
