Approval rates
Lissette C. Perez has a 56% approval rate across her entire record since 2016. Her latest-period approval rate of 48% sits 4 points below the San Antonio office average of 52%. These statistics are derived from 2,305 decisions on record. 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
The approval trend for Lissette C. Perez has fluctuated since 2016. After reaching a peak approval rate of 66% in 2020, the data shows variability in subsequent years. The most recent fiscal year data shows an approval rate of 49% across 325 decisions, which reflects a departure from the higher rates observed in 2024. This pattern suggests that the latest period may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
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.
About the San Antonio hearing office
Lissette C. Perez's most recent office on record is the San Antonio hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. With 23 judges on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 52%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 23 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Antonio office, 17 of whom decided cases in the latest file. Approval rates among this bench vary widely, ranging from 18% to 70% since 2016. You should prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Lissette C. Perez has an approval rate of 56% since 2016. This sits within the range of 18% to 70% observed among the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Antonio office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time. It reached a high of 66% in 2020 and has seen varying levels of activity in the years since, with a 49% approval rate in the most recent partial fiscal year. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy based on these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to be prepared for any judge by having your medical evidence organized with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you present your evidence clearly during this process.
The approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and testimony. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
