Approval rates
Judge Yee maintains an approval rate of 62%, which currently tracks 4 percentage points higher than the San Jose Hearing Office average of 58%. This data is drawn from 2,691 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical baseline for understanding how cases are processed in this courtroom. When compared to the national average of 58%, Judge Yee's rate indicates a distinct approach to evaluating your SSDI claim. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific 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 Yee'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 tenure of 3 years, Judge Yee has shown an upward trend in approval rates. Starting at 46% in 2023, the rate climbed to 60% in 2024 and reached 65% in 2025. This progression across 2,691 lifetime decisions suggests a consistent refinement in how evidence is weighed. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, indicating that the judge's approach to evaluating your medical and vocational evidence has stabilized over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Yee'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 Yee? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the San Jose hearing office
The San Jose Hearing Office serves a diverse population across California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 58%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical documentation and work history. You can visit the San Jose 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 your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the San Jose Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 48% to 78%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, understanding the office-wide environment is helpful. For your preparation, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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.