Approval rates
The 41% approval rate for Peter F. Belli reflects his total decisions on record since 2016, which compares to the 39% to 80% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento. This docket of 726 decisions provides a stable view of past activity. 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 Belli. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Belli'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
Peter F. Belli decided 726 cases between January 2016 and September 2019. His yearly approval rate was 39% in 2016, 43% in 2017, 40% in 2018, and 52% in 2019. This pattern shows variability in outcomes over the four-year period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Belli'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 Sacramento hearing office
Peter F. Belli's most recent office on record is the Sacramento hearing office. This office is part of a larger network of 20 judges who have established records at this location since 2016. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in any decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento, with approval rates ranging from 39% to 80% on their since-2016 records. Because every judge brings a different approach to the hearing room, preparation is vital.
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
Peter F. Belli has an approval rate of 41% based on 726 decisions on record since 2016. This falls within the 39% to 80% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Peter F. Belli's approval rate fluctuated between 39% and 52% during the period from 2016 to 2019. While these numbers provide context, they do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of who is assigned.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your future outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and testimony. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
