Approval rates
Comparing Serena S. Hong's 67% approval rate against the 43% to 79% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is San Rafael provides context for her decision-making history. In the most recent reporting period, her 69% approval rate sits 8 percentage points above the office average of 61%. These figures are derived from a docket of 3,615 decisions on record since 2016. 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 Hong'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
Since 2016, Serena S. Hong's approval rate has shown a steady pattern with minor annual fluctuations. After reaching a peak of 73% in 2020, the rate adjusted to 62% in 2021 before stabilizing in the mid-60% range. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a rate of 69% over 149 decisions, which aligns with your long-term average. This consistency suggests that your approach to evaluating evidence remains steady over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hong'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 San Rafael hearing office
Serena S. Hong's most recent office on record is the San Rafael hearing office, which serves you in the California region. This office maintains a bench of 8 judges with varying approval patterns. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in the outcome. You can see the San Rafael Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Rafael
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Rafael office. Approval rates among this group vary widely, ranging from 43% to 79% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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
Serena S. Hong's 67% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 43% to 79% range observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is San Rafael. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific bench.
Serena S. Hong's approval rate has remained relatively steady since 2016, fluctuating between 62% and 73% annually. Her most recent rate of 69% is consistent with her long-term performance. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your symptoms limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Serena S. Hong's 67% rate provides context, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a stronger case regardless of the judge's historical average.
