Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 31% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 31% to 90% range of the Tampa OHO bench. In the most recent reporting period, the 40% approval rate can be compared against the office's 59% rate. These figures are based on 3,076 decisions on record, providing a statistical foundation for your review.
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 Downs'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
The approval rate for Amber Downs has fluctuated since 2016. With 3,076 total decisions on record, the data reflects a consistent approach to case evaluation. While the approval rate was 34% in 2016, it reached 40% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent period shows a divergence from the long-term average, which may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Downs'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 Tampa OHO hearing office
Amber Downs's most recent office on record is the Tampa OHO, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the Florida region and maintains a bench of 16 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 59%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tampa OHO
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 11 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 90% on their since-2016 records.
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
Amber Downs has an approval rate of 31% on record since 2016, which is at the lower end of the 31% to 90% range seen among the 16 judges at the Tampa OHO. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The approval rate for Amber Downs has varied over time, starting at 34% in 2016 and reaching 40% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of building a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence aligns with this judge's history.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your limitations. Being prepared with clear, objective evidence is essential, and an attorney can help you organize your medical history to present the strongest possible case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of how Amber Downs will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete and persuasive.
