Approval rates
Judge Allen maintains a lifetime approval rate of 59% based on 15,048 decisions rendered during their 9-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, the approval rate reached 73%, which is 1 point above the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in this courtroom over time.
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 Allen'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 the past 9 years, your judge's approval rate has shown a notable upward trend. After a period of relative stability between 2018 and 2023, the approval rate climbed to 67% in 2024 and 77% in 2025. This recent shift suggests a departure from the earlier decision-making pattern observed during the middle of their tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Allen'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 Allen? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Indianapolis hearing office
The Indianapolis Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants across Indiana, managing a high volume of disability cases. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where your evidence is evaluated against federal standards. You can visit the Indianapolis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Indianapolis Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Across the office's bench, lifetime approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 48% to 72%. This variance highlights why understanding the specific tendencies of your assigned judge is a vital part of your preparation.
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.