Approval rates
Since 2016, Ben Barnett has maintained a 40% approval rate across 3,661 decisions. In the latest reporting period, his 48% approval rate sits 4 points below the San Antonio office average of 52%, 8 points below the Texas state average of 56%, and 10 points below the national average of 58%. These figures reflect recent performance trends rather than your specific outcome.
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 Barnett'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
Ben Barnett's approval rate has fluctuated since January 2016. After varying in the middle years of the record, the data shows a recent upward trajectory, with approval rates climbing from 36% in 2022 to 49% in 2025. The latest period rate of 48% reflects a continuation of this recent pattern. These shifts provide a view of his decision-making history.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Barnett'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 San Antonio hearing office
The San Antonio Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Ben Barnett, with his last recorded decision there in July 2026. There are 23 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 52%, providing a benchmark for the local bench.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 23 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Antonio Hearing Office, 17 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates among this bench range from 18% to 70% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Ben Barnett's 40% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 18% to 70% range observed among the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the data shows a trend of fluctuation followed by a recent increase. While his approval rate was 38% in 2016, it reached 49% in 2025 and stands at 48% for the current partial year. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why working with an attorney to prepare a strong case is essential regardless of who is assigned to your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert answer questions from the judge. Having an attorney can help you navigate the process and ensure your medical evidence is presented clearly.
The 40% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation supporting your disability claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
