Approval rates
The 32% approval rate for Christopher R. Inama reflects all decisions on record since 2016. Among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Billings hearing office, approval rates range from 32% to 70%. These figures represent historical patterns rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Inama. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Inama'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 Christopher R. Inama has fluctuated across the 1,603 decisions on record since 2016. Annual approval rates were 31% in 2016, 27% in 2017, 38% in 2018, 26% in 2019, 40% in 2020, and 28% in 2021. These shifts indicate that your outcome depends on the specific evidence you provide.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Inama'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 is the most recent office on record for 13 judges. You can find more information about the office's operations on the Billings hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Billings
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. 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.
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
Christopher R. Inama has an approval rate of 32% based on 1,603 decisions on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 32% to 70% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Billings hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Christopher R. Inama has fluctuated over time, with annual rates ranging between 26% and 40% since 2016. These variations are common in SSDI hearings and often depend on the specific evidence presented in each case. An attorney can help you understand how to strengthen your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the quality of your medical evidence with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. Having an attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your case is presented clearly.
The 32% approval rate for Christopher R. Inama represents a historical pattern of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Every case is unique, and the strength 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.
