Approval rates
Judge Moreen maintains a lifetime approval rate of 66%, which aligns with the current Pasadena Hearing Office average and exceeds the national average of 58%. This data is drawn from 2,241 decisions rendered during his 3 years on the bench. Comparing these figures to broader state and national trends helps provide context for your upcoming hearing. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for 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 Moreen'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 his 3-year tenure, your judge has shown an upward trend in approval patterns. Starting at 55% in 2016, his approval rate rose to 70% in 2017 and reached 76% in 2018. This progression suggests a shift in his approach to case evaluation over time. Such trends are common as judges refine their interpretation of Social Security Administration guidelines, and the recent data reflects a consistent pattern of decision-making.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Moreen'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 Moreen? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Pasadena hearing office
The Pasadena Hearing Office serves a large population in California, managing a high volume of disability claims through its team of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 66%, reflecting the regional complexity of cases handled in this jurisdiction. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. See the Pasadena Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Moreen is essentially random. Across the Pasadena Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 63% to 72%. Because every judge brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, understanding the office-wide environment is useful for your preparation.
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.