Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Larry A. Auerbach compared to the range of other judges who have decided cases at the Atlanta North hearing office. These figures are based on the total volume of 253 decisions on record since 2016. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
Judge Auerbach is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Auerbach isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
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
Larry A. Auerbach's approval rate is based on 253 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2017. The data shows a 92% approval rate in 2016 and an 85% approval rate in 2017. This record reflects the judge's activity during that specific window.
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 is the most recent office on record for 24 judges as of September 2017. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where your evidence is reviewed against federal disability criteria. You can find more information on the Atlanta North hearing office page.
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. Among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North, 6 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file and range from 24% to 61% on their since-2016 records.
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 through 2017 sits above the 24% to 61% range observed among the 6 judges who decided cases at the Atlanta North office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case strategy.
The approval rate for Larry A. Auerbach was 92% in 2016 and 85% in 2017. These figures represent the judge's decisions during that period. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated system to assign cases to judges based on current workloads. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the standards of any judge you are assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to build a strong case.
