Approval rates
The approval rate for John D. McNamee-Alemany is based on a career docket of 12,241 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, this judge approved cases at a rate 20 percentage points higher than the St Petersburg FL OHO average and 25 points above the national average of 58%. These comparisons provide a baseline for understanding how this courtroom has historically functioned, though aggregate rates do not predict the outcome of 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 McNamee-Alemany'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 6-year tenure, the approval pattern for John D. McNamee-Alemany has shown an upward trajectory. After an initial period of stability, the data indicates a trend of rising approval rates, reaching 89% in 2021. This recent performance reflects a divergence from the judge's long-term lifetime average of 83%. Such patterns may stem from shifts in the complexity of cases assigned or changes in the quality of evidence presented in recent years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McNamee-Alemany'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 McNamee-Alemany? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the St Petersburg Fl Oho hearing office
The St Petersburg FL OHO manages a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 63%, which is higher than the national average of 58%. If you appear here, you should be prepared for a review of medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can visit the St Petersburg FL Hearing Office page for more information on the local 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. Within the St Petersburg FL OHO, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 38% to 83%. Because of this variance, understanding the general environment of the office is helpful for your preparation. The guidance for building a strong case remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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.