Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While your judge's 43% approval rate reflects the entire period since 2016, the latest-period figures provide a snapshot of more recent activity. Against the office's bench range of 40% to 67%, this judge's record provides a clear look at historical decision-making. 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 Reason'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
The approval rate for Sally C. Reason has fluctuated since 2016. With 3,290 decisions on record, the data reveals a trend that has remained relatively steady in recent years, despite minor annual variations. The latest-period approval rate of 42% is consistent with the broader patterns observed over the last decade. This stability suggests that the judge's approach to evaluating evidence has been maintained over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reason'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 Los Angeles West hearing office
The Los Angeles West hearing office serves claimants throughout the California region. This office maintains a bench of 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 62%, the environment is one where evidence quality is paramount.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Los Angeles West
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this group range from 40% to 67% on their records since 2016. 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
Judge Reason has an approval rate of 43% since 2016, which sits within the 40% to 67% range of other judges at the Los Angeles West office. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
The approval rate for Sally C. Reason has seen variations, starting at 52% in 2016 and reaching 42% in the most recent partial fiscal year. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Since you cannot control the assignment, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is selected.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily activities and your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your testimony is clear.
The 43% approval rate on record for Sally C. Reason is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation supporting your disability claim. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to give your case the best chance of success.
