Approval rates
The approval rate for George W. Reyes is based on 2,481 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2023. This figure provides a statistical baseline for understanding the historical activity of this judge at the Tucson office.
Judge Reyes is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Reyes isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Reyes'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 George W. Reyes fluctuated between 2016 and 2023. After starting at 74% in 2016, the rate reached a peak of 85% in 2021 before settling at 76% in 2023. These 2,481 decisions show a pattern that remained generally high throughout the recorded years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reyes'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 Tucson hearing office
The Tucson Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for George W. Reyes as of September 2023. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with 3 of those judges appearing in the most recent SSA file. You can find the full roster of judges on the Tucson Hearing Office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tucson
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the judges whose most recent office on record is Tucson, the 3 judges who decided cases in the latest SSA file range from 69% to 76% on their since-2016 records.
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
George W. Reyes has a 79% approval rate on his record since 2016. In comparison, the 3 judges at the Tucson office who appear in the latest SSA file have approval rates ranging from 69% to 76% over the same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of the Tucson bench.
The approval rate for George W. Reyes showed variation over the 2,481 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2023. The rate moved from 74% in 2016 to a high of 85% in 2021, ending at 76% in 2023. An attorney can help you understand how these historical trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. Regardless of your assigned judge, an attorney can help you prepare your case for a successful hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While George W. Reyes approved 79% of the 2,481 cases on his record, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to present the strongest possible case.
