Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at the same timeframes. While you see a 66% approval rate across all 4,207 decisions on record since 2017, recent data shows a 66% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 2 points above the Portland OR office average of 64%, 5 points above the state average of 61%, and 8 points above the national average of 58%. These figures reflect recent trends rather than the judge's long-term average.
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 Martin'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
Paula M. Martin has issued 4,207 decisions on record since June 2017. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates moving from 71% in 2017 to a low of 53% in 2021, followed by a period of higher approvals peaking at 78% in 2024. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 66% approval rate, which aligns closely with the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Martin'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 Portland OR hearing office
The Portland OR hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region. This office currently has 12 judges on record, and it maintains a latest-period approval rate of 64%. You can expect a professional environment where evidence quality is the primary driver of the decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Portland OR
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Portland OR office, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 34% to 66% on their records since 2016.
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
Paula M. Martin's latest-period approval rate of 66% is 2 points higher than the Portland OR office average of 64%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards expected in this office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time. After starting at 71% in 2017, the rate reached a low of 53% in 2021 before rising to 78% in 2024. The current rate of 66% in the latest period shows the pattern remains dynamic, and an attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and often a vocational expert or medical expert will be present. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
The 66% approval rate on record since 2017 provides context on past decisions, but it is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
