Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes. While Teresa A. Kroenecke has a 49% approval rate on record since 2016, her latest-period approval rate is 52%. This latest figure sits 12 points below the Indianapolis office's latest-period rate of 64%. These metrics are based on thousands of decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation.
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 Kroenecke'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, Teresa A. Kroenecke has issued 3,769 decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates moving from 47% in 2017 to 52% in the most recent partial year. This pattern indicates that while your judge's approach has seen shifts, the latest period reflects a continuation of a relatively steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kroenecke'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 Indianapolis hearing office
The Indianapolis hearing office serves claimants across Indiana. With 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 64%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality and medical documentation are the primary factors in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis, and approval rates across this bench range from 43% to 75% 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
Teresa A. Kroenecke has an approval rate of 49% on record since 2016. Across the bench of 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis, approval rates range from 43% to 75%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Teresa A. Kroenecke has fluctuated over the years, starting at 47% in 2017 and reaching 52% in the most recent partial year. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these patterns might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a randomized workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most important step. An attorney can help you prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. Having an attorney present can help ensure your testimony clearly addresses the criteria the judge uses to make a decision.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Teresa A. Kroenecke's 49% rate on record since 2016 provides context, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build the strongest possible case.
