Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to broader benchmarks helps provide a clearer picture of the local hearing environment. Judge Fischer maintains a lifetime approval rate of 59%, which aligns with the 59% state average and sits 1 point above the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 16,884 lifetime decisions, offering a stable statistical foundation. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 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
Over her 8 years on the bench, Judge Fischer has seen fluctuations in her approval patterns. After an initial period of higher approval rates in 2017, the data shows a shift toward a lower range between 2019 and 2022. However, recent reporting periods indicate a marked upward trend, with approval rates reaching 78% in 2024. This recent uptick reflects changes in case mix or evidence quality presented in the courtroom.
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.
Hearing with Judge Fischer? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the San Bernardino hearing office
The San Bernardino Hearing Office serves a large population in California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 63%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can visit the San Bernardino Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the San Bernardino Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 52% to 64%. Because assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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.