Approval rates
Judge Chan has maintained a lifetime approval rate of 57% since joining the bench. In the most recent reporting period, her 47% approval rate remains 13 points higher than the Stockton Hearing Office average of 44%, though it sits slightly below the 58% national benchmark. These statistics are derived from a substantial docket of 5,053 lifetime decisions, providing a stable view of her decision-making history. These rates describe past decisions rather than serving as a prediction 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 Chan'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
Over her 3 years on the bench, Judge Chan has seen her approval rate shift from 69% in 2023 to 53% in 2025. This downward trend in approval percentages reflects a changing case mix or evolving evidentiary standards within her courtroom. Despite these fluctuations, her volume of 5,053 lifetime decisions indicates a consistent approach to the Social Security Administration hearing process. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern as she manages a high-volume caseload.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Chan'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.
Hearing with Judge Chan? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Stockton hearing office
The Stockton Hearing Office serves a broad population across California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an environment where case processing is prioritized to meet federal standards. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can view the Stockton Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Stockton Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 30% to 61%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is more important than the specific judge assigned to your file. You can find more information on the Stockton Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.