Approval rates
Yelanda Collins has a 70% approval rate across 3,783 decisions on record since 2016. In the latest reporting period, the approval rate was 78%, which is 27 percentage points higher than the Jacksonville office average of 51%. These figures reflect past performance and do not guarantee the outcome of your 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 Collins'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, your judge's approval rate has fluctuated between 66% and 78% annually. The most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 78% based on 137 decisions. This data is based on 3,783 total decisions on record since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Collins'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 Jacksonville hearing office
Yelanda Collins's most recent office on record is Jacksonville, as of July 2026. This office maintains an approval rate of 51% for the latest reporting period. You can find more information on the Jacksonville hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville
There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville. Across their since-2016 records, these judges have approval rates ranging from 33% to 78%. Because the Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly, you cannot choose your judge.
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
Yelanda Collins has a 70% approval rate on record since 2016, which falls within the 33% to 78% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The approval rate has varied year-to-year, ranging from 66% to 78% since 2016. The most recent period shows a 78% approval rate. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly to balance workloads. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where you provide testimony about your medical conditions and work history. You may be asked about your daily activities and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you strengthen your case before you appear before Yelanda Collins.
