Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Hansen maintains a lifetime approval rate of 50% over 21,809 lifetime decisions, which can be measured against the latest Metairie Hearing Office average of 57% and the national average of 58%. These figures rely on a large docket to provide statistical confidence. 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 Hansen'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 9 years on the bench, Judge Hansen has demonstrated a clear upward trend in approval rates. Starting at 47% in 2017, the rate climbed steadily to reach 62% in the most recent reporting period. This shift reflects a consistent pattern of growth in favorable outcomes over the course of this tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hansen'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 Hansen? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Metairie hearing office
The Metairie Hearing Office serves a significant population across Louisiana, managing a high volume of disability claims with a team of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 57%, which aligns closely with state and national trends. You can expect a professional environment focused on the rigorous evaluation of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Metairie Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. At the Metairie office, the bench of 6 ALJs features a range of approval rates spanning from 43% to 62%. Because of this variance, understanding the office environment is helpful for your preparation. You can find more information on the Metairie 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.