Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Camille Monahan has a 50% lifetime approval rate, her latest-period approval rate is 51%. This latest figure sits 4 percentage points below the Memphis office's latest-period average of 55%. These metrics are derived from 738 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation.
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 Monahan'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
Camille Monahan's record shows a steady approval pattern since 2023. After an approval rate of 48% in 2024, the data shows a fluctuation to 53% in 2025, followed by a return to 48% in 2026. The latest period shows a rate of 51%, which remains consistent with the overall career trajectory. This pattern suggests that your case outcomes are influenced by the specific evidence presented in your individual file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Monahan'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 Memphis hearing office
The Memphis hearing office serves you throughout Tennessee and the surrounding region. With a bench of 14 judges on record, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 55%. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical and vocational evidence supporting your disability claim. You can see the Memphis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges on record at this office since 2016, 7 of whom reported in the SSA's latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, with lifetime records ranging from 44% to 80%.
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
Camille Monahan's latest-period approval rate of 51% is 4 percentage points lower than the Memphis office's latest-period average of 55%. Because approval rates vary widely across the 14 judges on record at this office, an attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific bench.
Camille Monahan's approval rate has shown minor fluctuations, moving from 48% in 2024 to 53% in 2025, and settling at 48% in 2026. These shifts are common in disability hearings and often relate to the specific mix of cases heard. A qualified attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the standards Camille Monahan typically applies.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony regarding your ability to work. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your past work and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for this testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.