Approval rates
When reviewing the performance of Timothy G. Stewart, it is helpful to compare his lifetime approval rate of 48% against broader benchmarks. The Metairie Hearing Office currently reports an approval rate of 57%, while the national average stands at 58%. These comparisons are based on a substantial docket of 8,615 lifetime decisions, providing a stable view of his historical decision-making. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of 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 Stewart'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 4 years on the bench, the approval rate for Timothy G. Stewart has shown an upward trend. Starting at 42% in 2016, his annual approval frequency rose to 52% by 2019. This progression suggests a shift in his decision-making pattern over time, potentially reflecting changes in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence presented. This trajectory indicates a move toward alignment with broader regional averages.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stewart'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 Stewart? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Metairie hearing office
The Metairie Hearing Office serves a significant population across Louisiana, managing a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 57%, it functions as a critical hub for the regional Social Security Administration network. You can expect a structured environment where evidence quality is the primary driver of case outcomes. You can visit the Metairie Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Metairie Hearing Office, the 6 ALJs range from 45% to 62% in their lifetime approval rates. While these differences exist, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain consistent regardless of which judge presides over your hearing. You can find more information on the Metairie 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.