Approval rates
The approval rate for Thomas G. Henderson is derived from 20,710 lifetime decisions rendered over 9 years on the bench. When compared to the latest reporting period, his approval rate currently sits 10 percentage points below the New Orleans office average and 15 points below the national average. This data provides a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in his courtroom. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Henderson'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 his 9-year tenure, Thomas G. Henderson has shown a varied decision pattern. After starting with a 38% approval rate in 2016, his annual approval figures trended upward, peaking at 49% in 2022 before shifting to 38% in 2024. This trajectory suggests that while his overall lifetime average is 43%, his recent rulings have returned to levels seen earlier in his career. These fluctuations often reflect changes in the complexity of the cases assigned to his docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Henderson'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 Henderson? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the New Orleans hearing office
The New Orleans Hearing Office serves a significant population across Louisiana, managing a high volume of SSDI claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 53%, which provides context for the local environment in which your case will be heard. You can expect a rigorous review of your medical evidence and vocational history during your proceedings. You can see the New Orleans Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The New Orleans Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Thomas G. Henderson is essentially random. Across the office's 6 judges, lifetime approval rates range from 36% to 70%, highlighting that the judge you draw can significantly impact your hearing experience. Despite these variations in judicial philosophy, the fundamental requirements for proving your disability remain consistent. You can review the New Orleans Hearing Office page for more information on the local bench.
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.