Approval rates
The 40% approval rate for Susan Hoffman reflects her total decisions on record since 2016. This can be measured against the 40% to 67% range of the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Los Angeles West. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting outcomes for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Hoffman. 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 Hoffman'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 Susan Hoffman has fluctuated across the 600 decisions on record since 2016. After an approval rate of 45% in 2017, the rate shifted to 37% in 2018 before moving to 44% in 2019. These yearly changes illustrate how case mix and evidence quality can influence outcomes over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hoffman'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 Los Angeles West hearing office
Susan Hoffman's most recent office on record is the Los Angeles West hearing office, which serves claimants in the California region. This office is home to 9 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can see the Los Angeles West Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Los Angeles West
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Los Angeles West, and their approval rates since 2016 range from 40% to 67%. The process for presenting your medical evidence remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Susan Hoffman has an approval rate of 40% based on her 600 decisions on record since 2016. This places her at the lower end of the 40% to 67% range seen among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Los Angeles West. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Her approval rate has shown variation, moving from 45% in 2017 to 37% in 2018 and 44% in 2019. These shifts are common in SSDI dockets and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard. If you are concerned about how these trends might affect your hearing, an attorney can help you evaluate your options.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Susan Hoffman has a 40% approval rate on record since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation supporting your disability claim. An attorney can help you identify the specific evidence needed to strengthen your case.
