Approval rates
The approval rate for Susan L. Torres is based on 1,721 lifetime decisions. Within the Harrisburg hearing office, the lifetime approval rates for all 13 judges on record range from 17% to 86%. This variance highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case matters. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Torres. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Torres'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 Susan L. Torres has fluctuated, moving from 46% in 2016 to 53% in 2017, 55% in 2018, 47% in 2019, and 46% in 2020. This trend reflects her consistent approach to evaluating disability claims over the course of her recorded docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Torres'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 Harrisburg hearing office
The Harrisburg hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a key hub for SSDI hearings in Pennsylvania. The office maintains a bench of 13 judges on record, ensuring a range of experience in disability law. You can expect a formal process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. See the Harrisburg 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 the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 13 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 17% to 86% over their respective lifetimes.
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
Susan L. Torres has a lifetime approval rate of 50%, which sits within the broader office-wide range of 17% to 86%. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Susan L. Torres has ranged between 46% and 55% since 2016. While these numbers provide context, they are not a guarantee of how she will rule on your specific claim. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure you are ready for any 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 organize your evidence.
A 50% lifetime approval rate indicates that Susan L. Torres has approved half of the 1,721 cases she has decided since 2016. While this data is helpful for setting expectations, your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.