Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 54% approval rate for Stuart Adkins reflects all decisions on record since June 2017. This can be viewed alongside the 46% to 69% range observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dayton hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Adkins. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Adkins'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
The approval rate for Stuart Adkins has fluctuated throughout the 2,613 decisions on record since June 2017. After an initial period of high approval in 2017, the rate shifted before experiencing a recovery in 2021 and 2023. The most recent data from 2024 shows a 51% approval level. This trend indicates that your judge's decision-making pattern has remained variable over the past several years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Adkins'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 Dayton hearing office
Stuart Adkins's most recent SSA record (September 2024) is at the Dayton hearing office in Ohio. This office is staffed by a bench of 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal hearing process where your evidence quality is the primary factor in the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dayton
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dayton hearing office. These judges demonstrate an approval-rate range of 46% to 69% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Stuart Adkins has an approval rate of 54% across 2,613 decisions on record since June 2017. This sits within the 46% to 69% range of the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dayton hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Stuart Adkins has shown significant variance since 2017. While the rate was 93% in 2017, it reached 71% in 2023 before settling at 51% in 2024. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends heavily on the medical evidence and the strength of your claim. An attorney can help you assess the merits of your case and prepare for the hearing process.
