Approval rates
Judge Cromer’s approval rate is calculated from a significant docket of 26,474 lifetime decisions. Her recent performance shows a 62% approval rate, consistently trending above the Columbus office average of 57% and the national average of 58%. These comparisons highlight how her bench currently aligns with broader regional and federal trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 Cromer'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 her 10 years on the bench, Judge Cromer has maintained a relatively stable approval pattern. While your yearly rates have fluctuated between 57% and 69%, the most recent data shows a 62% approval rate, reflecting a continuation of her long-term performance. This consistency suggests a predictable approach to evaluating your evidence and medical documentation. The latest period indicates that her decision-making remains aligned with her established career history.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cromer'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 Cromer? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Columbus hearing office
The Columbus Hearing Office serves a large population across Ohio, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 57%, reflecting the complex nature of the cases heard in this region. You can expect a professional environment focused on the thorough review of your medical records and vocational testimony. See the Columbus Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Columbus office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 49% to 68%. Because this variance exists, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence rather than the specific judge assigned. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.