Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. Gregui J. Mercado's 73% approval rate is based on 1,563 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2020. This sits within the 62% to 88% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is San Juan. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Mercado. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mercado'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 data for Gregui J. Mercado shows a total of 1,563 decisions on record starting in 2016. The approval rate trend indicates a decline over the observed period, moving from 80% in 2016 down to 60% in 2020. This pattern reflects a shift in outcomes over the four-year window, which may be influenced by changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mercado'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 San Juan hearing office
The San Juan hearing office serves claimants throughout Puerto Rico. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in your decision. You can see the San Juan Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Juan
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is San Juan, with approval rates ranging from 62% to 88% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is 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
Gregui J. Mercado has an approval rate of 73% based on 1,563 decisions since 2016. This places the judge within the 62% to 88% range of approval rates for the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is San Juan. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a decline in the approval rate from 80% in 2016 to 60% in 2020. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your 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 to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. A judge's history is only one factor, as the strength of your medical documentation is what ultimately determines your eligibility. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to support your claim.
