Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for what to expect during your hearing. Judge Ramsey's lifetime approval rate of 38% is measured against the Sacramento Hearing Office latest rate of 65% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,156 lifetime decisions. 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 Ramsey'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
Throughout your 1 year on the bench, you have maintained a consistent decision pattern. With 2,156 lifetime decisions, the data shows a steady approach to evaluating disability claims. While your approval rate remains lower than the regional and national averages, the trend has held stable over the reporting period. This consistency suggests that you apply a rigorous standard to the evidence presented in each case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ramsey'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 Ramsey? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Sacramento hearing office
The Sacramento Hearing Office serves a large population across California, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 65%, reflecting the diverse range of cases and medical evidence processed in the region. You can expect a professional environment focused on the specific requirements of 20 CFR Part 404. See the Sacramento Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Sacramento Hearing Office, the bench of 6 ALJs ranges from 38% to 75% in lifetime approval rates. Because of this variance, it is common to research your assigned judge to better understand the local environment. You can find more information on the Sacramento 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.