Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 49% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 32% to 83% range established by the bench at the Miami OHO. In the most recent reporting period, the 50% approval rate is compared against the office rate of 63%, the state rate of 59%, and the national rate of 58%. These figures represent historical trends rather than individual case outcomes.
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 Reynolds'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
Since 2016, 3,257 decisions have been issued, showing a pattern that has fluctuated over the last decade. While the approval rate saw a high of 54% in 2020, it has since adjusted, with the most recent fiscal year-to-date period showing a 50% approval rate. This latest figure reflects a continuation of the steady pattern observed throughout the record. These variations often stem from changes in the complexity of cases or the specific evidence presented in your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reynolds'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 Miami OHO hearing office
The Miami OHO is the most recent office on record for this judge, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 13 judges who handle a high volume of disability hearings. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 63%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Miami OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Miami OHO, and 8 of them decided cases here in the latest file. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 83% based on records since 2016. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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 Reynolds has an approval rate of 49% on record since 2016, which falls within the 32% to 83% range of other judges at the Miami OHO. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 49% in 2016 and reaching 50% in the most recent partial year of 2026. These shifts are common and may reflect changes in the types of cases or the quality of evidence presented. A qualified attorney can help you understand how to best present your medical evidence to improve your chances of a favorable outcome.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney who is familiar with the Miami OHO can help you prepare for the hearing process.
The 49% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of how your specific case will be decided. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the primary factor in a judge's decision. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case for your hearing.
