Approval rates
The approval rate for Marc A. Yerkey is calculated from 1,034 decisions on record since December 2022. When comparing this to the broader bench at the Long Beach hearing office, you will find a range of 32% to 76% among judges with similar records. In the most recent reporting period, Marc A. Yerkey maintained a 73% approval rate, which is 18 points above the office average of 55%.
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 Yerkey'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 2022, Marc A. Yerkey has issued 1,034 decisions. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 67% in 2023, 67% in 2024, 67% in 2025, and 73% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent shift reflects the latest data in your judge's docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Yerkey'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 Long Beach hearing office
The Long Beach hearing office serves you in the California region. This office has a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 55%. You can see the Long Beach hearing office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Long Beach
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Long Beach hearing office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 76%.
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
Marc A. Yerkey has a 68% approval rate on record since December 2022. This sits within the 32% to 76% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Long Beach hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The approval rate was 67% from 2023 through 2025. In the partial 2026 fiscal year, the rate increased to 73%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of who is assigned.
The 68% approval rate on record since December 2022 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony you present. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
