Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Pamela Houston's 65% approval rate sits above the 59% office average, the 59% state average, and the 58% national average. These figures are based on 491 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Houston'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, Pamela Houston has issued 4,504 decisions with an overall approval rate of 58%. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates dipping to 45% in 2019 before rising to 68% in 2024. The most recent 12 months sit slightly below the 2024 peak but remain above the long-term average since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Houston'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 Orlando hearing office
The Orlando office is the most recent office on record for 17 judges, with 8 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. The office maintained a 59% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the specific medical evidence you present.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orlando
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 8 judges who decided cases at the Orlando office in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 49% to 100% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, though only 8 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Houston's 65%. All five last decided cases in Florida.
- 65% Approval rate, last 12 months Emily Kirk
- 65% Approval rate, last 12 months Richard J. Ortiz-Valero
- 65% Approval rate, last 12 months Guy Koster
- 65% Approval rate, last 12 months Gonzalo Vallecillo
- 64% Approval rate, last 12 months James P. Alderisio
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Houston and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Pamela Houston's 65% approval rate is higher than the 59% office average. Among the 8 judges who decided cases at the Orlando office in the latest SSA file, approval rates range from 49% to 100% for that same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Pamela Houston's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 61% in 2016 and reaching 65% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. While the rate has moved over time, it remains a reflection of past decisions rather than a guarantee of future outcomes. An attorney can help you review your case to see how your evidence aligns with current standards.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across the Orlando office. Because assignment is random, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily limitations and work history by the judge or a vocational expert. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for these questions.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific case. Pamela Houston's 65% rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is one data point, but the success of your claim depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare effectively.
