Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Marilyn R. Brand has a 50% approval rate on record since 2016, the most recent reporting period shows a 60% approval rate, which is 5 points higher than the Jackson MS OHO latest-period average of 55%. These figures are derived from thousands of decisions, providing a look at past trends. 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 Brand'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
Your approval rate for Marilyn R. Brand has fluctuated since 2016. After a period of lower approval rates between 2020 and 2021, the trend shifted upward, with the latest period showing a 60% approval rate. This recent performance represents an increase compared to the 50% average observed over the full record. The latest period reflects a continuation of this recent upward pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brand'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 Jackson Ms OHO hearing office
Marilyn R. Brand's most recent office on record is the Jackson MS OHO, which serves you if you are in the region. This office is part of a network that handles a high volume of disability claims, with 8 judges currently on record as having their most recent decisions logged there. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%, providing a benchmark for the local bench.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jackson Ms OHO
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is effectively random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 5 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. Among this group, approval rates on record since 2016 range from 41% to 90%.
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
Marilyn R. Brand's 50% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 41% to 90% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Jackson MS OHO. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated, moving from 52% in 2016 to a 60% approval rate in the latest reporting period. Understanding these trends can be helpful, and an attorney can help you evaluate how your medical evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having legal representation is often the best way to ensure your case is presented clearly, as an attorney can help you navigate the hearing process.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical documentation, and an attorney can help you build the strongest possible case.
