Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. The 52% approval rate for Belinda J. Brown reflects her total decisions on record since 2016. This figure sits within the 43% to 75% range observed among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Indianapolis hearing office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Brown. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Brown'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 Belinda J. Brown showed a steady trend early in the record, reaching 60% in 2019 before shifting to 47% in 2020 and 44% in 2021. These 2,057 decisions on record since 2016 demonstrate how yearly fluctuations can occur within a judge's docket. The decline in the final years of the available data reflects a shift away from the earlier, higher approval periods.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brown'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 Indianapolis hearing office
Belinda J. Brown's most recent office on record is the Indianapolis hearing office, which serves you if you are in Indiana. This office includes a bench of 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Indianapolis hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 43% to 75% on their records since 2016. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your own claim is the most effective strategy.
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
Belinda J. Brown has an approval rate of 52% across 2,057 decisions on record since 2016. This places her within the 43% to 75% range of the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Indianapolis hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Belinda J. Brown has fluctuated over time. It started at 53% in 2016, peaked at 60% in 2019, and was 44% in 2021. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is best to focus on building a strong case with the help of an attorney.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Belinda J. Brown has approved 1,078 of her 2,057 decisions on record since 2016. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony presented in your specific case. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
