Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. The approval rates for the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Worth hearing office range from 32% to 63% on their records since 2016. This data reflects a broad spectrum of decision-making patterns across the office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Dane. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Dane'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
Dan Dane decided 184 cases between January 2016 and September 2016. During this period, the approval rate was 52%. This data provides a snapshot of activity during that specific timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dane'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 Fort Worth hearing office
Dan Dane's most recent office on record is the Fort Worth hearing office, with decisions there through September 2016. This office serves claimants across the Texas region and maintains a bench of 15 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can see the Fort Worth hearing office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Worth
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Worth hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 63% on their records since 2016. While you cannot choose your judge, understanding the range of outcomes at this office provides a realistic view of the hearing process.
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
Dan Dane has an approval rate of 52% on record since 2016. This falls within the 32% to 63% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Worth hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The data for Dan Dane covers the period from January 2016 to September 2016, during which the approval rate was 52%. Because the records for this judge are limited to this window, there is no long-term trend to report. An attorney can help you evaluate how the evidence in your case aligns with current standards.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges at the hearing office. Since you cannot control your assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you ensure your case is fully developed.
The 52% approval rate on record for Dan Dane since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical documentation is the most important factor in a favorable decision. An attorney can help you ensure your case is fully developed for your hearing.
