Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While the office bench ranges from 37% to 68% on records since 2016, your individual outcome depends on the specific medical evidence you present. With 2,530 decisions on record, the data provides a stable view of past activity. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting your specific outcome.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Benham. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Benham'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
Since 2016, the approval rate for Eric V. Benham has fluctuated. After starting at 67% in 2016, the rate reached a low of 51% in 2021 before moving to 69% in 2024. The 2025 data shows a rate of 61% over 102 decisions. These shifts indicate that the judge's pattern varies over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Benham'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 Diego hearing office
Eric V. Benham's most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office, with decisions there through September 2025. This office features a bench of 15 judges who have collectively managed a high volume of disability claims. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Diego
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 37% to 68% on their records since 2016. You can find the full roster of judges on the San Diego hearing office page.
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
Eric V. Benham's 62% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 37% to 68% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is San Diego. Because case assignment is random, you cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. It began at 67% in 2016 and reached 69% in 2024, with a low of 51% in 2021. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. You do not have the option to select a specific judge for your hearing, which is why preparing a strong case is essential regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
The 62% approval rate is a historical average of past decisions and not a prediction of your outcome. Your specific medical evidence and how it aligns with SSA regulations are the most important factors in your hearing. An attorney can help you present your evidence effectively.
