Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Gallegos has maintained a 55% lifetime approval rate, a figure derived from 3,843 total decisions. While her latest reporting period shows a 56% approval rate, this should be viewed alongside the Moreno Valley office average of 53% and the national average of 58%. 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 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
Over her 3 years on the bench, Judge Gallegos has demonstrated a consistent trend in her decision-making. Her approval rate has moved from 47% in 2023 to 56% in 2025, reflecting an increase in favorable outcomes over time. This pattern suggests that her approach to case evaluation has stabilized as her tenure has progressed. The latest period aligns with this trajectory, indicating a consistent application of Social Security Administration guidelines.
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.
Hearing with Judge Gallegos? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Moreno Valley hearing office
The Moreno Valley Hearing Office serves a significant population in Southern California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 53% during the latest reporting period. If you are appearing here, prepare for a rigorous review of your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Moreno Valley 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 Moreno Valley office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 44% to 60%. Because of this variance, understanding the office-wide environment is as important as looking at any single judge's history. You can find more information on the Moreno Valley Hearing Office page.
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.