Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. Evangelina P. Hernandez has a 69% approval rate on record since 2016, which sits within the 26% to 84% range of the Oakland bench. In the most recent reporting period, the judge maintained a 75% approval rate, which is 9 percentage points higher than the office average of 66%. These figures are based on 2,756 decisions on record since 2016.
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
The approval rate for Evangelina P. Hernandez has shown a varied trend across the 2,756 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of relative stability between 2016 and 2019, the rate saw an increase in 2020 before fluctuating in subsequent years. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 75% approval rate, which is higher than the long-term average.
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.
About the Oakland hearing office
The Oakland hearing office serves claimants in California. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 66%. You can see the Oakland hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oakland hearing office, and 6 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 26% to 84% on their since-2016 records.
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
Evangelina P. Hernandez has a 69% approval rate on record since 2016. This places the judge within the 26% to 84% range of the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oakland hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years. While the rate was 66% in 2016, it reached 75% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
The 69% approval rate on record since 2016 provides context on past decisions but is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Outcomes depend primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony presented. An attorney can help you build a strong case tailored to the requirements of your hearing.
