Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Mary P. Parnow maintains a 53% approval rate across all decisions since 2016, recent performance shows a 56% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 10 percentage points above the San Francisco office average of 46%. These metrics are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation for your review.
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 Parnow'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
Since 2016, Mary P. Parnow has issued 3,677 decisions. After an initial period of steady approval rates, the data reflects fluctuations, with the most recent fiscal year-to-date period showing a 56% approval rate. This recent performance indicates a slight divergence from the 53% average observed over the full record. These patterns often shift based on the specific mix of medical evidence and case complexity presented in your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Parnow'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 Francisco hearing office
The San Francisco Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Mary P. Parnow as of July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, reflecting a broad range of decision-making patterns. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of your medical documentation remains the primary factor in your outcome. You can see the San Francisco Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the San Francisco office, there are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. These judges demonstrate a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 28% to 65% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains 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
Mary P. Parnow's 53% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 28% to 65% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Francisco Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a low of 47% in 2022 to a high of 57% in 2016, 2017, and 2023. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 56% approval rate. A qualified 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 an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure impartiality. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and may question you or a vocational expert. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you strengthen your case before your hearing date.
