Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. The 60% approval rate for Blanca B. DE LA Torre reflects her entire record since 2016, which you can compare against the 43% to 75% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges approach disability claims.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge de la Torre. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge de la Torre'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
Blanca B. DE LA Torre decided 1,126 cases between January 2016 and September 2019. Her approval rate remained steady during this window, starting at 58% in 2016 and reaching 62% by 2019. This consistent pattern suggests a stable approach to evaluating your evidence and medical documentation over the course of her recorded decisions.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge de la Torre'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
Blanca B. DE LA Torre's most recent office on record is the Indianapolis hearing office, which serves you if you are in Indiana. This office is part of a regional network that handles a high volume of disability appeals. With a bench of 20 judges, the office maintains a diverse range of decision patterns.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis, with approval rates ranging from 43% to 75% on their records since 2016. Because each judge has a unique approach to evidence, understanding the broader bench helps you prepare for 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
Blanca B. DE LA Torre has a 60% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 43% to 75% range observed among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with the standards applied in this office.
Her approval rate has remained steady, moving from 58% in 2016 to 62% in 2019. This consistency across 1,126 decisions suggests a stable decision-making pattern. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that assignments remain random and impartial. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of your judge assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony from you and potentially a vocational expert. The goal is to determine if your impairment prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are complete.
The 60% approval rate on record for Blanca B. DE LA Torre is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific 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 evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses relative to the requirements of the Social Security Administration.
