Approval rates
Judge Quinones maintains an approval rate that consistently outpaces broader benchmarks. When compared to the San Juan Hearing Office latest average of 68% and the national average of 58%, the data shows a distinct pattern of allowance. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 7,131 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation for review. 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 Quinones'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 a 4-year tenure, your judge's approval rate has shown a transition from an initial high of 88% in 2016 to 73% in 2018. This trend reflects a shift in the volume and nature of cases handled during the judge's time on the bench. While the latest reporting period shows a divergence, the lifetime average remains a primary indicator of the judge's historical approach to disability claims. This pattern suggests a move toward more moderate approval levels over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Quinones'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 Quinones? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the San Juan hearing office
The San Juan Hearing Office serves you throughout Puerto Rico, managing a high volume of disability appeals. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 68%, this location operates within a complex regional legal landscape. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. See the San Juan 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 you cannot choose your judge. Within the San Juan Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 43% to 83%. This variance highlights why understanding the local judicial environment is a standard part of your case preparation. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.