Approval rates
When evaluating your claim, it is helpful to look at the Social Security Administration approval data for your assigned judge. Judge Perez has a lifetime approval rate of 39%, which differs from the Metairie Hearing Office latest average of 57%. These figures are based on 8,957 lifetime decisions rendered during his tenure. 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 Perez'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 5 years on the bench, Judge Perez has shown a steady decision-making trend. His annual approval rates fluctuated between 35% and 42% throughout his tenure, reflecting a consistent approach to the evidence presented in disability claims. This consistency allows for a clearer understanding of how your medical evidence may be evaluated during your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Perez'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 Perez? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Metairie hearing office
The Metairie Hearing Office serves a significant population of claimants across Louisiana. With a bench of 6 judges, this office manages a high volume of cases to ensure timely processing of disability appeals. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 57%, which is reflective of the regional case mix. You can see the Metairie 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 Perez is essentially random. Across the Metairie Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 39% to 62%. Because every judge approaches the evidence differently, it is vital to have a well-documented file. You can find more information on the Metairie 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.