Approval rates
Lowell Fortune's approval rate of 46% is based on 472 decisions recorded since 2016. This sits within the range of 31% to 75% observed among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Denver Hearing Office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Fortune. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Fortune'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 Lowell Fortune was 47% over 424 decisions in 2016 and 45% over 168 decisions in 2017. With 472 total decisions on record since 2016, the data indicates a consistent approach to case evaluation during the judge's time at the Denver Hearing Office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fortune'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 Denver hearing office
The Denver Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for 22 judges as of September 2017. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 61%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Denver
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assigned judge is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Denver Hearing Office, with approval rates ranging from 31% to 75% 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
Lowell Fortune has an approval rate of 46% based on 472 decisions since 2016. This falls within the 31% to 75% range of the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Denver Hearing Office. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
The approval rate for Lowell Fortune moved from 47% in 2016 to 45% in 2017. These figures are based on a total of 472 decisions on record. If you are concerned about how your case will be evaluated, an attorney can help you prepare a strong presentation of your claim.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. You cannot choose your judge, which is why it is important to be prepared for any ALJ assigned to your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions and procedures you will encounter.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Factors such as the quality of your medical evidence and your work history are often more significant than the judge's historical average. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
