Approval rates
Your hearing prospects are influenced by the judge's historical approval patterns. In the most recent reporting period, Maria T. Mandry maintained a 66% approval rate, which is 1 percentage point above the Orlando office average and 5 points above the national average. These figures are derived from a docket of 23,592 lifetime decisions, providing a stable view of their judicial history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Mandry'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
Over a decade on the bench, Maria T. Mandry has seen fluctuations in approval rates, ranging from a high of 73% in 2017 to a low of 52% in 2022. Recent data shows a positive trend, with the approval rate climbing to 69% in 2025. This latest period reflects a departure from the mid-tenure dip, suggesting a shift in case outcomes that may be influenced by changes in evidence quality or case mix. Understanding this trajectory helps you see how the judge's approach has evolved over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mandry'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.
Hearing with Judge Mandry? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Orlando hearing office
The Orlando Hearing Office serves a large population across Florida and manages a high volume of disability claims. With a team of ALJs, the office handles a complex caseload that reflects regional trends in SSDI applications. When you appear here, the quality of your documentation is paramount to a favorable outcome. You can see the Orlando Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Orlando office, the bench consists of 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 53% to 63%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, your preparation should focus on the strength of your medical evidence. You can find more information on the Orlando Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.