Approval rates
Judge Ciegel has a lifetime approval rate of 43%, which sits within the 43% to 75% range seen across the Indianapolis bench. In the latest reporting period, his 38% approval rate is 26 points lower than the office average of 64%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your upcoming hearing.
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 Ciegel'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 2023, Judge Ciegel has issued 1,565 decisions. His approval rate has trended from 50% in 2023 to 38% in the most recent reporting period. This shift reflects the evolving nature of his docket and the specific evidence presented in the cases assigned to him.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ciegel'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
The Indianapolis hearing office serves you throughout Indiana. With a bench of 20 judges on record, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 64%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Indianapolis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. There are 20 judges on record at this office since 2016, 11 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 43% to 75% over their respective careers.
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
Judge Ciegel's 43% lifetime approval rate is at the lower end of the 43% to 75% range observed among the 20 judges on record at the Indianapolis office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a decline in approval rates from 50% in 2023 to 38% in the most recent reporting period. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to meet the requirements of your specific case.
A judge's approval rate is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing process.