Approval rates
The approval rate for Ben Willner is calculated from 2,136 lifetime decisions recorded between 2016 and 2023. At the NHC Albuquerque office, the lifetime approval rates for all judges on record range from 31% to 60%. This range provides the necessary context to understand where a judge sits relative to their peers.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Willner. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Willner'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 decision pattern for Ben Willner has shown a shift from higher approval rates in the early years of the record to a more conservative trend in later periods. While you can see he approved 52% of cases in 2016, the rate adjusted over time, reflecting a consistent approach to the evidence presented in his courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Willner'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 NHC Albuquerque hearing office
The NHC Albuquerque hearing office serves you if you are in New Mexico and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 8 judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical and vocational evidence supporting your application. You can see the NHC Albuquerque Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Ben Willner is essentially random. There are 8 judges on record at the NHC Albuquerque office since 2016. With lifetime approval rates across the office bench ranging from 31% to 60%, the specific judge assigned can influence your hearing experience.
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
Ben Willner holds a 40% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the 31% to 60% range of all judges who have served at the NHC Albuquerque office since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with the expectations of judges in this office.
Yes, the data shows a transition from a 52% approval rate in 2016 to lower percentages in subsequent years. This pattern reflects his evolving approach to the 2,136 decisions he has made on record. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards often seen in his courtroom.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
A 40% lifetime approval rate is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of how Ben Willner will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and vocational testimony. An attorney can help you build a robust case that addresses the specific requirements of your hearing.