Approval rates
The 74% approval rate for Alma S. DE Leon reflects her decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 28% to 74% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached their dockets. 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 de Leon. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge de Leon'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 Alma S. DE Leon has shown a steady trend across the 1,286 decisions on record since 2016. Starting at 69% in 2016, the annual approval rate grew to 78% by 2019 and remained at that level through 2020. This consistent pattern suggests a stable approach to case evaluation over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge de Leon'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 Pittsburgh hearing office
Alma S. DE Leon's most recent office on record is the Pittsburgh hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and their approval rates on record since 2016 range from 28% to 74%.
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
Alma S. DE Leon has a 74% approval rate on record since 2016. This is at the top of the 28% to 74% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the rate has trended upward from 69% in 2016 to 78% in 2019 and 2020. This steady increase over 1,286 decisions on record suggests a consistent pattern in how cases were evaluated. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your own claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated algorithm to distribute cases among available judges to balance workloads. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history, daily limitations, and the severity of your impairments. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare your testimony for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Alma S. DE Leon has a 74% approval rate on record since 2016, every case is decided on its own unique medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your case.
