Approval rates
The approval rate for Lloyd E. Hartford is based on 490 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2018. When evaluating this figure, it is helpful to compare it against the broader bench at the Billings hearing office, where judges range from 32% to 70% in their since-2016 approval rates. This variation highlights the importance of understanding the specific bench dynamics at your hearing location.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Hartford. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Hartford'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
Lloyd E. Hartford's approval rate shows a fluctuating pattern across the data window starting in 2016. After an initial approval rate of 29% in 2016, the rate rose to 38% in 2017 before settling at 28% in 2018. These shifts often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the specific evidence presented during those periods. This pattern demonstrates that while consistency is a goal, your individual case outcome depends heavily on the specific medical and vocational evidence you provide.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hartford'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 Billings hearing office
The Billings hearing office serves you and other claimants across Montana and the surrounding region. This office has a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the specific medical documentation of your disability.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Billings
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Billings hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 70% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the local bench is a standard part of your hearing preparation.
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
Lloyd E. Hartford's 33% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the lower end of the 32% to 70% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Billings. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Lloyd E. Hartford was 29% in 2016, 38% in 2017, and 28% in 2018. These variations are common and often depend on the specific mix of cases heard in a given year. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your own application.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot select your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation.
The 33% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony you present. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
