Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the judge maintains a 42% approval rate across 3,762 decisions on record since 2016, recent data shows a 33% approval rate during the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 20 points lower than the 53% office-wide average for the same timeframe. These figures provide a statistical baseline, but 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 Beers'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 judge's approval rate has fluctuated since 2016, showing a peak of 52% in 2021 before trending downward. With 3,762 decisions on record, the data provides a stable view of the judge's historical pattern. The latest-period approval rate of 33% represents a continuation of the recent decline observed since 2022. This pattern may reflect shifts in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented in your recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Beers'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 Houston West hearing office
Caroline H. Beers's most recent office on record is the Houston West hearing office. This office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 53%, and it is staffed by 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the specific medical and vocational evidence of your claim. You can see the Houston West Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Houston West
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 10 of them decided cases here in the latest file. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 8% to 73% on their records since 2016. For your preparation, 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
Judge Beers has a 42% approval rate on record since 2016, which sits within the 8% to 73% range of other judges at the Houston West office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The judge's approval rate has seen shifts over time, moving from 40% in 2016 to a 33% rate in the latest reporting period. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your specific hearing.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you understand the hearing process regardless of your assigned judge.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney can help you present your evidence clearly and prepare for the questions the judge may ask.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your specific medical evidence and work history are the most important factors, and an attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
