Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to look at how a judge's approval rate compares to their peers at the same office. The bench at the Columbus office shows a wide range of approval rates, from 34% to 83% across their respective records since 2016. With 1,889 decisions on record, the data for Timothy G. Keller provides a clear view of his historical decision-making patterns.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Keller. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Keller'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 2016, Timothy G. Keller has maintained a varied approval pattern. His annual approval rates fluctuated, starting at 44% in 2016 and reaching a high of 56% in 2020 before shifting to 36% in 2022. These shifts reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the evidence presented, rather than a static decision-making process.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Keller'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 Columbus hearing office
Timothy G. Keller's most recent office on record is the Columbus hearing office. This office is home to 17 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can see the Columbus hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Columbus
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Columbus office. Approval rates among this group vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 83% 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
Timothy G. Keller has an approval rate of 44% on his record since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 34% to 83% seen among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Columbus. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows annual fluctuations in his approval rate. While he approved 44% of cases in 2016, his rate reached 56% in 2020 before moving to 36% in 2022. An attorney can help you understand how these historical trends might relate to the evidence in your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and your functional limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific case. Timothy G. Keller has decided 1,889 cases since 2016, providing a stable pattern of his decision-making. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of the judge's historical rate.
