Approval rates
To understand how your case might be evaluated, it is helpful to look at the lifetime approval rate of 54% for Judge Simmons. This figure is derived from a docket of 27,628 lifetime decisions accumulated over 10 years on the bench. When comparing this to the latest office approval rate of 57% and the national average of 58%, you can see how this judge aligns with broader trends. 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 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
Over a decade on the bench, the approval rate for Judge Simmons has shown a consistent upward trend. Starting at 44% in 2016, the annual approval rate has climbed steadily, reaching 71% in 2025. This indicates a shift in the judge's decision-making pattern over time, with the most recent period reflecting a higher frequency of favorable outcomes compared to the lifetime average. This trend suggests that your current case evaluation may be influenced by evolving standards or changes in the types of evidence presented.
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.
Hearing with Judge Simmons? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Houston North hearing office
The Houston North Hearing Office serves a large population in Texas, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of six judges. The office currently maintains an average approval rate of 57%, reflecting the regional trends in disability adjudication. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Houston North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Houston North Hearing Office, approval rates among the six judges vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 62% over their respective careers. Because of this variance, the specific judge you draw can be a factor in your hearing experience. You can find more information on the office's roster on the Houston North Hearing Office page.
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.