Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Matilda Surh has a 40% approval rate since 2017, her latest-period approval rate of 43% sits 3 percentage points below the San Francisco office average of 46%. These figures are drawn from a docket of 3,263 total decisions on record. 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 Surh'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 2017, Matilda Surh has maintained a varied approval pattern. After an initial 51% approval rate in 2017, the data shows a period of lower approval rates before a recovery in recent years. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate of 43% follows the 47% rate observed in 2025. This fluctuation highlights the importance of presenting a complete medical record, as the latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Surh'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 San Francisco hearing office
The San Francisco hearing office serves you across the region. With 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 46%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence when appearing here. You can see the San Francisco Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco, approval rates range from 28% to 65%. Five of these judges decided cases in the latest SSA file from July 2026. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Matilda Surh's 40% approval rate since 2017 falls within the 28% to 65% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Matilda Surh has fluctuated over time. It began at 51% in 2017 and has seen various shifts, including a 43% rate in the most recent partial year of 2026. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why working with an attorney to prepare a strong, evidence-based case is essential for any assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical documentation is complete.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Matilda Surh has a 40% approval rate on record since 2017, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
