Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at the broader context of the Fort Worth Hearing Office. While the national average sits at 58%, Judge Dane maintains a lifetime approval rate of 53% across 1,533 lifetime decisions. This data provides a statistical baseline for understanding how cases are processed in this jurisdiction. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific 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 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
During 1 year on the bench, Judge Dane has maintained a consistent approval rate of 53% across 1,533 lifetime decisions. This trend indicates a stable approach to case evaluation throughout the tenure. While individual hearings vary based on the specific medical evidence you present, the overall pattern remains steady, providing a reliable baseline as you prepare for your hearing.
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.
Hearing with Judge Dane? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Fort Worth hearing office
The Fort Worth Hearing Office serves a significant population across Texas, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 55%. You can expect a rigorous review process where the quality of your medical documentation is paramount to a successful outcome. You can visit the Fort Worth Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Fort Worth Hearing Office, the 6 ALJs range from 30% to 53% in their lifetime approval rates. Because of this variance, the specific judge assigned to your case is a factor in the overall process. You can find more information on the office's general operations on the Fort Worth Hearing Office page.
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.