Approval rates
Judge Simon maintains a lifetime approval rate of 69%, which compares to the Pasadena Hearing Office average of 66% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 9,602 lifetime decisions accumulated over his 6 years on the bench. Reviewing these metrics helps you understand the statistical environment of your upcoming 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 Simon'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 his 6-year tenure, Judge Simon has maintained a consistent approach to disability adjudication. His annual approval rates reached 73% in 2018 and 67% in 2016, with recent data showing a 54% rate in 2021. His lifetime record of 9,602 decisions reflects his experience processing a wide variety of medical and vocational evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Simon'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 Simon? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Pasadena hearing office
The Pasadena Hearing Office serves a large population across California, managing a high volume of SSDI and SSI claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 66%. You can visit the Pasadena Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Pasadena Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 63% to 72%. Because every judge operates within the same regulatory framework, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent regardless of your assignment.
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.