Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 54% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the 52% to 64% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the San Bernardino hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, the 56% approval rate compares against the office's 61% rate and the national 58% average.
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 Tracy'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 December 2017, the judge has issued 3,436 decisions. The approval trend has shown a gradual increase over time, rising from 47% in 2018 to 57% in 2025, with the 2026 fiscal year-to-date figure at 56%. This steady pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence. The latest period's 56% approval rate reflects a continuation of this long-term trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Tracy'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 Bernardino hearing office
The San Bernardino hearing office serves claimants across the region, with 5 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 61%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Bernardino
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Bernardino hearing office, and 3 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 52% to 64% on their records since 2016.
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
Judge Tracy's 54% approval rate on record since 2017 falls within the 52% to 64% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the San Bernardino hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate has shown a steady upward trend, moving from 47% in 2018 to 57% in 2025, with the 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate at 56%. Understanding these patterns is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your daily limitations and work history, which is why an attorney can help you present your evidence clearly.
Approval rates are statistical summaries of past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
