Approval rates
To understand how Daniel Benjamin compares to the broader bench, you can look at both long-term records and recent performance. The judge's 52% approval rate since 2017 sits within the 52% to 64% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is San Bernardino. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 68% approval rate outperformed the office rate of 61%, the state rate of 61%, and the national rate of 58%. These figures reflect past trends rather than future outcomes.
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 Benjamin'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 approval rate for Daniel Benjamin has shown an upward trend in recent years. After fluctuating between 47% and 56% during the 2018 to 2022 period, the rate climbed to 60% in 2023 and reached 71% in 2025. The 2026 fiscal year to date shows a continuation of this pattern at 69%. This recent shift marks a change from the historical average of 52% across the 1,694 decisions on record since 2017.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Benjamin'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 Bernardino hearing office
Daniel Benjamin's most recent office on record is the San Bernardino hearing office, which serves you in California. This office is part of a regional network tasked with processing disability claims, and it currently maintains an office-wide approval rate of 61% for the latest reporting period. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Bernardino
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is San Bernardino. Approval rates for this bench range from 52% to 64% based on 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
Daniel Benjamin has an approval rate of 52% since 2017, which falls within the 52% to 64% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is San Bernardino. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Daniel Benjamin has trended upward in recent years. While the rate was 47% in 2019 and 2021, it rose to 71% in 2025 and remains at 69% for the 2026 fiscal year to date. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, so the judge you draw is essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and daily limitations, and a vocational expert often testifies about available jobs. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions.
The 52% approval rate on record for Daniel Benjamin represents past decisions and is not a prediction for your hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to strengthen your claim.
