Approval rates
When evaluating a judge's record, it is helpful to look at both their long-term history and their most recent performance. Thomas J. Helget has a lifetime approval rate of 45% across 5,329 decisions, while the Houston North hearing office bench shows a wide range of lifetime approval rates from 34% to 64%. In the latest reporting period, Thomas J. Helget recorded a 53% approval rate, which sits 3 percentage points below the office-wide latest-period average.
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 Helget'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 record for Thomas J. Helget shows an upward trend since 2016. After starting with a 36% approval rate in 2016, the figures have generally climbed, reaching 53% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. This latest performance represents a shift from his lifetime average of 45%, reflecting recent changes in his decision-making pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Helget'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 Houston North hearing office
The Houston North hearing office serves applicants throughout the Texas region. With a bench of 12 judges on record, this office manages a high volume of disability claims. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period is 56%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is effectively random. There are 12 judges on record at the Houston North hearing office since 2016, with 9 currently reporting in the latest SSA file. These judges demonstrate a broad spectrum of approval rates, ranging from 34% to 64% over their respective careers.
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
Thomas J. Helget has a lifetime approval rate of 45%, which falls within the 34% to 64% range observed across the Houston North bench. While his latest-period approval rate of 53% is 3 points lower than the office average of 56%, individual outcomes depend heavily on your specific medical evidence. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of this office.
Yes, the data shows an increase in approval rates over the last decade. Starting at 36% in 2016, the rate has risen to 53% in 2026. This trend indicates that recent decisions have been more favorable than his historical average, and an attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Houston North hearing office. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on building a strong case that can succeed regardless of who is presiding. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your claim. While Thomas J. Helget has approved 45% of cases over 5,329 decisions, your success depends on the strength of your medical documentation and testimony. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this judge's courtroom.