Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While Laurie H. Porciello has a 25% approval rate across all decisions on record since 2016, the bench at the Hattiesburg hearing office shows a range of 25% to 76% for the same period. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 22% approval rate can be viewed alongside the office's 50% rate, the state's 55% rate, and the 58% national average.
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 Porciello'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, Laurie H. Porciello has issued 3,890 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, with rates ranging from 21% in 2020 and 2024 to 31% in 2025. The most recent fiscal year-to-date figure of 22% remains consistent with the judge's long-term pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Porciello'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 Hattiesburg hearing office
Laurie H. Porciello's most recent office on record is the Hattiesburg hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges who handle a diverse range of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 50%, you should focus on providing comprehensive medical documentation to support your specific impairments.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Hattiesburg
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Hattiesburg hearing office. Approval rates for these judges range from 25% to 76% based on their records since 2016.
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
Laurie H. Porciello has a 25% approval rate on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 25% to 76% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Hattiesburg hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
The approval rate for Laurie H. Porciello has fluctuated over the years, starting at 28% in 2016 and reaching 31% in 2025, before moving to 22% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing by analyzing the evidence required for your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a randomized workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Because you cannot control your assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you navigate this process.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and testimony to determine if you meet the criteria for disability. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for this process and ensure your testimony is clear and consistent.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Laurie H. Porciello has a 25% approval rate since 2016, your case's success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and ensure your application is as strong as possible.
