Approval rates
Kathleen Fischer's 60% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the 52% to 64% range observed among the five judges whose most recent office on record is San Bernardino. Because the SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, your specific assignment is random. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Fischer. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Fischer'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 Kathleen Fischer has shifted over the 2,646 decisions on record since 2017. After a period of decline between 2018 and 2019, the approval rate remained relatively steady through 2022. More recently, the data shows an upward trend, with approval rates reaching 71% in 2023 and 78% in 2024.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fischer'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 Bernardino hearing office
The San Bernardino hearing office serves claimants in California. This office maintains a bench of five judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard 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 San Bernardino
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your judge assignment is essentially random. There are five judges whose most recent office on record is San Bernardino, with approval rates ranging from 52% to 64% on their since-2016 records. You can find more information on the San Bernardino 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
Kathleen Fischer has a 60% approval rate on record since 2017. This falls within the 52% to 64% range of the five judges whose most recent office on record is the San Bernardino hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the 2,646 decisions on record. While the rate was 70% in 2017, it dipped to 51% in 2019 before trending upward to 78% in 2024. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your medical records.
The 60% approval rate on record since 2017 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence meets the necessary standards.
