Approval rates
Judge Hernandez maintains a lifetime approval rate of 68%, derived from 15,084 lifetime decisions over a decade of service. In the most recent reporting period, this rate reached 74%, placing the judge 10 percentage points above the national average of 58%. These metrics provide a look at how this judge has historically evaluated disability claims. 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 Hernandez'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 10 years on the bench, the approval trend for Judge Hernandez has fluctuated, ranging from a low of 58% in 2022 to a high of 75% in 2020. Recent data indicates an upward trajectory, with 2025 showing a 73% approval rate. This pattern suggests that the current approach is consistent with the long-term average, reflecting a period of higher allowance frequency compared to the 2022 dip.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hernandez'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 Hernandez? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Oakland hearing office
The Oakland Hearing Office serves a diverse population across Northern California, managing a high volume of SSDI cases. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 65%. You can expect a review process focused on the specific medical documentation provided in your file. You can see the Oakland Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Oakland Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Hernandez is random. Across the office's bench of 6 judges, lifetime approval rates range from 47% to 72%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your medical evidence remains the most critical factor in your hearing. You can find more information on the Oakland 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.