Approval rates
Evaluating your judge's approval rate requires looking at both their long-term record and recent trends. While the 50% approval rate since 2023 provides a baseline, it is helpful to compare this against the 30% to 77% range seen among the bench at the Toledo OH office. Recent data shows a 53% approval rate in the latest period, which sits 1 point below the office average of 54%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your 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 Jacques'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 2023, the judge has issued 1,510 decisions with a yearly approval trend that has fluctuated. After an approval rate of 49% in 2023 and 51% in 2024, the rate shifted to 46% in 2025 before rising to 53% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. These variations often stem from changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of medical evidence presented at your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Jacques'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 Toledo OH hearing office
The Toledo OH hearing office serves claimants throughout the region and maintains a diverse bench of 10 judges. In the latest reporting period, the office-wide approval rate was 54%. You can expect a formal process where the quality of your medical documentation remains the primary factor in a favorable decision. You can see the Toledo OH Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Toledo OH
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 7 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 30% to 77% on record. 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
Meredith L. Jacques has an approval rate of 50% since 2023, which falls within the 30% to 77% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Toledo OH office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated, moving from 49% in 2023 to 53% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, and the judge you draw is essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are complete.
The 50% approval rate on record since 2023 describes past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in your outcome. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare accordingly.
