Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Catherine MA's 17% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a baseline, while her latest-period approval rate of 8% can be compared against the Cleveland office's latest-period rate of 51%. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,863 decisions on record since 2016, offering a stable view of past activity. 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 Ma'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, Catherine MA has issued 2,863 decisions. Her approval rate has fluctuated over this period, moving from 26% in 2016 to 9% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. The latest-period approval rate of 8% is lower than her long-term average. These trends reflect past activity rather than a fixed outcome for your case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ma'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 Cleveland hearing office
Catherine MA's most recent office on record is the Cleveland hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 22 judges, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 51%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence of your disability. You can see the Cleveland hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cleveland
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cleveland office, with 11 of them deciding cases in SSA's latest file. Approval rates among this bench range from 17% to 70% on their since-2016 records. You can view the Cleveland hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
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
Catherine MA's 17% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the lower end of the 17% to 70% range observed among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cleveland office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
Yes, your judge's approval rate has shifted over time, starting at 26% in 2016 and reaching 9% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Because these rates reflect past decisions, they do not guarantee a specific outcome for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence of your disability. You will likely testify about your symptoms and limitations, and a vocational expert may provide testimony regarding your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your case outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony presented. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
