Approval rates
Judge Inama’s approval rate is evaluated against the broader context of the Billings Hearing Office and national standards. While the office maintains a recent approval rate of 64%, individual judges often show variance based on their specific docket and case mix. With over 10,837 lifetime decisions, the data provides a stable view of his historical trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 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
Over his 6 years on the bench, Judge Inama has maintained a consistent decision pattern. His approval rates have fluctuated between 25% and 37% annually, reflecting a steady approach to the evidence presented in his courtroom. The latest reporting period shows a rate that remains aligned with his long-term career average. This stability suggests that the judge applies a consistent framework to the cases you present.
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.
Hearing with Judge Inama? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Billings hearing office
The Billings Hearing Office serves you across Montana, managing a diverse caseload with a team of 6 administrative law judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 64%, which is higher than the national average of 58%. You can expect a professional environment focused on the specific medical evidence of your disability claim. You can see the Billings Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Billings Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 ALJs range from 31% to 69%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focus on the quality of your medical documentation. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.