Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. The data shows how Ghermann Magana performs relative to the broader bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Pasadena hearing office. With 1,344 decisions on record since 2023, the statistical sample provides a clear view of historical trends. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific 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 Magana'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 Ghermann Magana has remained steady since 2023, with 1,344 decisions on record. While the rate reached 71% in 2024, it stabilized at 67% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim, with the latest period showing no significant deviation from the historical average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Magana'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 Pasadena hearing office
Ghermann Magana's most recent office on record is the Pasadena hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 67%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Pasadena
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Pasadena hearing office, and 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 35% to 70% on their records. Your preparation remains 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
Ghermann Magana has an approval rate of 68% since 2023, which sits within the 35% to 70% range of the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Pasadena hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Ghermann Magana has been steady, moving from 65% in 2023 to 67% in the most recent partial fiscal year. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your claim.
No, the Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why preparing a strong case with an attorney is essential regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney can help you prepare your evidence and testimony to ensure your case is presented effectively.
An approval rate is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of how Ghermann Magana will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational factors in your file, which an attorney can help you organize.
