Approval rates
Judge Meyer has issued 27,566 lifetime decisions during his 10-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate reached 56%, which is 11 points below the Houston North office average and 12 points below the national average. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding his courtroom 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 Meyer'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 the past decade, Judge Meyer's approval rate has fluctuated, showing a notable upward trend in recent years. After a period of lower approval rates between 2018 and 2021, the last three years have seen a steady increase, reaching 56% in 2025. This shift suggests a change in case outcomes that deviates from his earlier career averages. The latest period reflects a continuation of this recent upward pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Meyer'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 Meyer? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Houston North hearing office
The Houston North Hearing Office serves you across the Texas region. It is one of the busiest offices in the state, managing a high volume of cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 57%, which aligns with state averages. You can see the Houston North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Houston North office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 34% to 62%. While your assigned judge may vary, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent. You can find more information on the Houston North 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.