Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Stacy Zimmerman maintains a 49% lifetime approval rate, her latest-period approval rate of 56% sits 3 points below the Orange office's latest-period average of 59%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a reliable look at historical trends.
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 Zimmerman'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
Stacy Zimmerman has issued 3,097 decisions since 2017. Her yearly approval trend shows a period of relative stability followed by an upward shift in recent years, moving from 46% in 2018 to 56% in 2026. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, with the judge currently approving 56% of cases.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Zimmerman'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 Orange hearing office
The Orange hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a hub for disability adjudications. With 12 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 59%. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Orange hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges on record at this office since 2016, 4 of whom reported in the SSA's latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 19% to 68% on lifetime records.
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
Stacy Zimmerman's latest-period approval rate of 56% is 3 points lower than the Orange office's latest-period rate of 59%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. After starting at 46% in 2018, the approval rate fluctuated before reaching 56% in 2026. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence needed for your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for any judge at the Orange office.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your limitations are clearly documented.
Approval rates are historical data points, not guarantees of a specific outcome. While Stacy Zimmerman's 49% lifetime rate provides context, your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a case that meets the necessary legal standards.