Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure the data is meaningful. The judge's 46% approval rate since 2016 is evaluated against the 44% to 59% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Middlesboro. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 54% approval rate is compared against the office's 42% rate, the state's 51% rate, and the national 58% rate. These figures provide a snapshot of recent activity rather than a long-term trend.
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 Mangus'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 Tommye C. Mangus has varied across the 4,465 decisions on record since 2016. After fluctuating between 39% and 53% in the middle years of the record, the judge's approval rate reached 54% in 2024 and 2025. The latest reporting period shows a 54% approval rate, which reflects a continuation of this recent pattern of higher approvals compared to the judge's long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mangus'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 Middlesboro hearing office
The Middlesboro hearing office serves claimants across Kentucky and the surrounding region. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, which recorded an office-wide approval rate of 42% in the latest reporting period. You can expect a standard hearing process where evidence quality and medical documentation remain the primary factors in your decision. You can see the Middlesboro hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Middlesboro
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is Middlesboro, and 3 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. These judges have since-2016 approval rates ranging from 44% to 59%. You can find the full roster of judges on the Middlesboro hearing office page.
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
Tommye C. Mangus has an approval rate of 46% since 2016, which sits within the 44% to 59% range of the 5 judges whose most recent office on record is Middlesboro. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time, ranging from a low of 39% in 2019 to a recent high of 54% in 2024 and 2025. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony for the hearing.
The 46% approval rate on record since 2016 describes past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. An attorney can help you evaluate how your unique medical evidence aligns with the standards Tommye C. Mangus typically applies.
