Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. While the judge's overall approval rate since November 2023 is 55%, recent performance shows a 57% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 2 percentage points above the Long Beach office average of 55%. With over 1,000 decisions on record, the data provides a clear view of past trends.
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 Gallegos'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 Kimberly M. Gallegos has shown a steady upward trend since November 2023. Starting at 53% in 2024, the rate moved to 55% in 2025 and reached 57% during the partial 2026 fiscal year. This pattern indicates that recent decisions are slightly more likely to result in an allowance compared to the overall average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gallegos'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 Long Beach hearing office
The Long Beach hearing office is the judge's most recent office on record as of July 2026. This office operates with a bench of 10 judges, and the office-wide approval rate for the latest period is 55%. You can expect a standard hearing process governed by federal regulations.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Long Beach
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 5 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 32% to 76% on their records.
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
Kimberly M. Gallegos has an approval rate of 55% since November 2023. This sits within the broader range of 32% to 76% seen among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Long Beach. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a steady trend. The approval rate was 53% in 2024, 55% in 2025, and 57% during the partial 2026 fiscal year. An attorney can help you evaluate how your case evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is best to focus on building a strong case with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your specific health challenges are clearly presented.
