Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 65% approval rate for Robert M. Erickson is based on all decisions on record since 2016, which you can compare against the 28% to 65% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco. 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 Erickson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Erickson'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 Robert M. Erickson has fluctuated over the years, showing a 65% average across 2,488 decisions since 2016. The yearly trend shows a high of 72% in 2020 and a low of 60% in 2019. The latest period on record shows a rate of 61% in 2023. This pattern suggests that your case-specific evidence remains the primary driver of your outcome.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Erickson'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 San Francisco hearing office
The San Francisco hearing office serves you if you are in the California region. This office includes a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence is paramount. For more information, see the San Francisco Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco, with approval rates ranging from 28% to 65% on their records since 2016. Five of these judges decided cases in the most recent SSA file. You can find more information on the San Francisco hearing office page.
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
Robert M. Erickson has a 65% approval rate on record since 2016, which is at the top of the 28% to 65% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence to align with the standards of this specific bench.
The approval rate for Robert M. Erickson has shown yearly variance, ranging from a low of 60% in 2019 to a high of 72% in 2020. With 2,488 decisions on record, the rate has remained relatively stable over the long term. An attorney can help you evaluate how these historical trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge at the San Francisco office. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare for the specific questions this judge may ask.
The 65% approval rate for Robert M. Erickson is a statistical summary of past decisions and not a guarantee of your outcome. Every case is unique, and your success depends on the strength of your medical documentation and testimony. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
