Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 24% approval rate for Ruth Ramsey covers all decisions on record since 2016, which you can compare against the 24% to 54% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Metairie. This provides a clear view of how this judge's record aligns with the local bench. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Ramsey. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
Over the 622 decisions on record since 2016, the approval rate for Ruth Ramsey shows a downward trend. The data indicates a 30% approval rate in 2017, followed by 25% in 2018, and 20% in 2019. This pattern reflects a consistent decline in the percentage of claims approved over the observed period.
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.
About the Metairie hearing office
The Metairie hearing office serves you if you are in Louisiana and the surrounding region. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 54%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical evidence provided in your file. For more information, see the Metairie Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Metairie
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Metairie, and their approval rates on record since 2016 range from 24% to 54%. Five of these judges decided cases here in the SSA's latest file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Ruth Ramsey has an approval rate of 24% across 622 decisions on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 24% to 54% range observed among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Metairie. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a decline in the approval rate over the recorded period. It moved from 30% in 2017 to 25% in 2018 and 20% in 2019. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to have an attorney who can help you prepare for the specific requirements of any judge you are assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The 24% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a disability claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and prepare for your specific hearing.
