Approval rates
Judge Troope maintains an approval rate that consistently outperforms broader benchmarks. In the most recent reporting period, their rate was 3 percentage points higher than the Pasadena office average and 11 percentage points higher than the national average of 58%. With over 12,081 lifetime decisions on the record, this data offers a statistically significant view of their approach to disability claims. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than individual hearing outcomes.
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 Troope'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 a 7-year tenure, Judge Troope has demonstrated a stable and generally high approval pattern. While the rate fluctuated between 66% and 74% annually, the trend remains consistent with their lifetime average of 69%. The most recent data shows a slight uptick in approvals, which may reflect changes in the specific mix of cases or the quality of evidence presented. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates claims based on the merits of the medical evidence provided.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Troope'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 Troope? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Pasadena hearing office
The Pasadena Hearing Office serves a significant population of claimants across the California region. This office manages a high volume of cases, with a bench of 6 judges who oversee thousands of hearings annually. The office-wide latest approval rate currently stands at 66%, reflecting the regional trends in disability adjudication. You can see the Pasadena Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Pasadena office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 63% to 72%. Because this variance exists, it is important to understand that your experience may differ depending on the specific judge assigned to your docket. You can find more information on the Pasadena 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.