Approval rates
Judge Fellabaum’s approval rate is calculated based on 18,333 lifetime decisions made over her 10-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, her approval rate reached 68%, which compares to the Albuquerque office average of 55% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical snapshot of courtroom activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Fellabaum'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 10 years on the bench, Judge Fellabaum has maintained a consistent presence in the disability adjudication system. While her approval rate fluctuated between 49% and 57% for much of her career, the data shows a notable increase in recent years, reaching 69% in 2025. This recent uptick suggests a shift in decision-making patterns compared to earlier years. Such trends often reflect changes in the types of cases heard or evolving standards for medical evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fellabaum'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 Fellabaum? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Albuquerque hearing office
The Albuquerque Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across New Mexico, managing a high volume of disability appeals. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains a collective focus on processing claims efficiently while adhering to federal guidelines. You can expect a formal environment where medical documentation and vocational expert testimony are critical. You can visit the Albuquerque Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. The Albuquerque office features a diverse bench with lifetime approval rates ranging from 41% to 61%. Because every judge has a unique approach to evaluating medical testimony and vocational evidence, your experience will depend on the specific facts of your claim. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.