Approval rates
Comparing a judge's history to broader trends provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Metz currently holds a 71% lifetime approval rate, which stands higher than the Indianapolis Hearing Office latest average of 61% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 4,397 lifetime decisions, offering a look at his judicial pattern. 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 Metz'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 2 years on the bench, Judge Metz has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. His approval rate moved from 69% in 2016 to 73% in 2017. This pattern suggests a stable decision-making process that has remained favorable relative to his peers. The uptick in his approval rate reflects a continuation of this stable pattern, providing a baseline for what to expect during your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Metz'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 Metz? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Indianapolis hearing office
The Indianapolis Hearing Office serves a large population across Indiana, managing a volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 61%, reflecting regional trends in disability adjudication. You should be prepared for a thorough review of medical evidence and vocational testimony. See the Indianapolis 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 you cannot request a specific judge. At the Indianapolis Hearing Office, the bench is composed of 6 judges whose lifetime approval rates range from 48% to 72%. While your assigned judge may vary, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent. For preparation purposes, the guidance is 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.