Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While Brian J. Henry has a 54% approval rate since 2023, the broader bench at this office shows a range of outcomes from 32% to 70%. Latest-period data shows the judge at 52%, which sits 11 points below the office-wide latest-period average of 63%.
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 Henry'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
Since January 2023, the judge has issued 1,086 decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates moving from 49% in 2023 to 51% in 2024, 64% in 2025, and 49% in 2026. This variation reflects changes in the specific mix of cases or the evidence presented in recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Henry'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
Brian J. Henry's most recent office on record is the Billings hearing office, which serves the state of Montana. The bench consists of 13 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 63%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Billings
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 70%.
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
Brian J. Henry has a 54% approval rate on record since 2023. This falls within the 32% to 70% range seen among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Billings. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The judge's approval rate has fluctuated, starting at 49% in 2023 and reaching 64% in 2025, before settling at 49% in the partial 2026 data. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly. An attorney can help you focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of your assigned judge.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you organize your records and prepare for the questions you will face.
The 54% approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical documentation is the most important factor. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
