Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. While Stephanie Katich has a 45% approval rate on record since 2016, the bench at the Fort Wayne hearing office shows a range of 45% to 68% for the same period. In the most recent reporting period, Stephanie Katich's 48% approval rate is 12 points below the office-wide average of 60%.
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 Katich'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 trend for Stephanie Katich has shifted over the 3,033 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of steady growth between 2016 and 2022, the judge saw an increase in approvals during 2023 and 2024. The most recent data from 2026 shows a return to a lower approval rate, which may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Katich'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 Fort Wayne hearing office
Stephanie Katich's most recent office on record is the Fort Wayne hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 4 judges who handle a diverse range of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 60%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical documentation and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Wayne
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 4 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Wayne hearing office, and 3 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. These judges show an approval-rate range of 45% to 68% on their records since 2016.
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
Stephanie Katich has a 45% approval rate on record since 2016, which is at the lower end of the 45% to 68% range observed among the 4 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Wayne hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your evidence to the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the 3,033 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate remained relatively steady, it saw an increase in 2023 and 2024 before shifting to 48% in the most recent reporting period. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical shifts.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you or vocational experts. The judge's goal is to determine if your condition meets the strict criteria for disability. Having an attorney present can help you navigate the questioning and ensure your medical narrative is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Stephanie Katich has approved 45% of the 3,033 decisions on record since 2016, but your individual outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your case file before your hearing date.
