Approval rates
The 69% approval rate for Donna M. Montano reflects her total decisions on record since 2016, which compares to the 35% to 70% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Pasadena. This statistical spread highlights how individual judicial patterns vary even within the same office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Montano. 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 Montano'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 approval rate for Donna M. Montano shifted between January 2016 and September 2020. After an approval rate of 72% in 2016 and 74% in 2017, the rate was 71% in 2018, 69% in 2019, and 61% in 2020. These figures represent the outcomes of 1,543 total decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Montano'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 Pasadena hearing office
The Pasadena hearing office is the most recent office on record for 11 judges. While the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 67%, your outcome depends on the specific medical evidence in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Pasadena
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assigned judge is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Pasadena hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 35% to 70% on their since-2016 records.
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
Donna M. Montano has a 69% approval rate on record since 2016. This places her within the 35% to 70% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Pasadena. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in approval patterns between 2016 and 2020. While the rate began at 72% in 2016, it reached 61% by 2020 across 1,543 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical observation based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how your specific case will be decided. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your evidence before your hearing.
