Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 44% approval rate for Mary Brennan reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 21% to 87% range observed among the bench of 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the Ft Lauderdale hearing office. With 1,911 decisions on record, this data provides a look at past trends. 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 Brennan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Brennan'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 Mary Brennan has fluctuated. After an initial 40% approval rate in 2016, the figures reached 47% in 2017, 48% in 2018, 45% in 2019, 41% in 2020, and 47% in 2021. These 1,911 decisions on record suggest that your outcome is responsive to the specific evidence presented in your case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brennan'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 Ft Lauderdale hearing office
The Ft Lauderdale hearing office serves you in Florida and is part of the broader SSA regional network. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, which has seen a wide range of outcomes across its bench. You can expect a formal process where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in the decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Ft Lauderdale
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the Ft Lauderdale hearing office, and their approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 21% to 87% on their since-2016 records. This variance highlights why understanding the specific context of your hearing is important.
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
Mary Brennan has an approval rate of 44% based on 1,911 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 21% to 87% range of approval rates for the 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the Ft Lauderdale hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare a case strategy that accounts for these local variations.
The approval rate for Mary Brennan has fluctuated over the years, starting at 40% in 2016 and reaching 47% in 2021. These variations across 1,911 decisions on record demonstrate that outcomes are often tied to the specific evidence in your case. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare for any potential outcome is a prudent step.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your daily limitations and work history. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face during the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Mary Brennan has a 44% approval rate on record since 2016, your case's success depends on the strength of your medical evidence and testimony. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
