Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the 62% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, the latest-period approval rate of 57% offers a snapshot of recent activity. These figures are evaluated against the broader bench, where approval rates for judges with a most recent office in Orlando range from 34% to 89%.
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 Mahon'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 Janet Mahon has fluctuated since 2016. After reaching a peak of 69% in 2019, the rate has seen variation, with the most recent period of 57% reflecting a shift from the long-term average. This pattern is based on 4,273 decisions on record, providing a data set to observe these trends.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mahon'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
Janet Mahon's most recent office on record is the Orlando hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 60%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
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. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 89% on their since-2016 records.
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
Janet Mahon has an approval rate of 62% on record since 2016. Across the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, approval rates range from 34% to 89%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over the years. Starting at 57% in 2016, it reached a high of 69% in 2019 before settling at 57% in the most recent period. An attorney can help you understand 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. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your case outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and your ability to prove disability under SSA rules. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
