Approval rates
The 53% approval rate for Maria Herrero-Jaarsma reflects her decisions since 2016, which can be measured against the 28% to 89% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the same. These statistics are derived from 518 total decisions on record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Herrero-Jaarsma. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Herrero-Jaarsma'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
Maria Herrero-Jaarsma decided 518 cases between 2016 and 2019. Her yearly approval rate was 66% in 2017, 51% in 2018, and 44% in 2019. This trend reflects the variation in her decisions over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Herrero-Jaarsma'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 Buffalo hearing office
Maria Herrero-Jaarsma's most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office, with her last recorded decision there in September 2019. This office includes a bench of 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Buffalo hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 28% to 89%. Because assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare.
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
Maria Herrero-Jaarsma has a 53% approval rate on record since 2016. Among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office, approval rates range from 28% to 89%. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case details might align with these patterns.
Yes, the data shows a shift in her approval frequency. Her rate was 66% in 2017, 51% in 2018, and 44% in 2019. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked about your work history and daily limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
The 53% approval rate for Maria Herrero-Jaarsma is a historical statistic, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in a decision. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
