Approval rates
When evaluating your claim, it is helpful to look at how Judge Reams compares to broader benchmarks. His lifetime approval rate of 53% is measured against the Mobile Hearing Office latest rate of 73% and the national average of 58%. With 7,503 decisions on record, this data provides a stable view of his historical approach to disability claims. 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 Reams'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 his 3 years on the bench, Judge Reams has maintained a consistent approach to his caseload. His approval rate moved from 52% in 2016 to 54% in 2017 and 54% in 2018. This stability suggests a predictable pattern in how he evaluates evidence and medical documentation. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, indicating that his decision-making process remains anchored in his established methodology.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reams'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 Reams? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Mobile hearing office
The Mobile Hearing Office serves a significant population across Alabama, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office processes cases with a focus on regional medical and vocational standards. The office currently reports a latest approval rate of 73%, which provides context for the local environment. You can visit the Mobile Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Mobile Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 53% to 76%. While some judges may have higher or lower approval frequencies, the core requirements for proving disability remain consistent. 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.