Approval rates
The approval rate for D'Lisa Simmons is 56% across 4,761 decisions since 2016. In the latest reporting period, this judge maintained a 69% approval rate, which is 13 percentage points higher than the 56% average for the Houston North hearing office. These figures provide a statistical window into past performance, though they do not guarantee your future outcome.
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 Simmons'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, the approval rate for D'Lisa Simmons has shown an upward trend. While the rate began at 44% in 2016, it reached 72% in 2025 and sits at 69% for the partial 2026 fiscal year. This pattern indicates a shift in decision outcomes over the last decade, with the latest period reflecting a continuation of higher approval rates compared to the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Simmons'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 Houston North hearing office
The Houston North hearing office is the most recent office on record for D'Lisa Simmons as of July 2026. With 12 judges on the bench, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 56%. You can see the Houston North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Houston North
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Houston North office, 9 of whom decided cases in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 34% to 64% on their records since 2016.
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
D'Lisa Simmons has an approval rate of 56% since 2016. This sits within the 34% to 64% range observed among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Houston North hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with these local trends.
Yes, the approval rate for D'Lisa Simmons has trended upward over time. Starting at 44% in 2016, the rate reached 72% in 2025 and remains at 69% for the partial 2026 fiscal year. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical fluctuations.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing before any judge assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
The 56% approval rate for D'Lisa Simmons represents a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of the medical evidence supporting your disability claim. An attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your evidence before your hearing date.
