Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes. While you see a 68% approval rate for Terry Miller on record since 2016, recent data shows a 68% approval rate in the latest reporting period, which is 8 percentage points higher than the 60% office-wide average for the same period. With over 4,000 decisions on record, the data provides a stable view of past performance.
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 Miller'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 January 2016, your approval rate for Terry Miller has varied. After an initial 59% approval rate in 2016, the figures reached a peak of 72% in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Recent data from the latest period shows a 68% approval rate, which remains consistent with the long-term average of 68% across 4,186 decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Miller'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
Terry Miller's most recent office on record is the Fort Wayne hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you across Indiana and the surrounding region. With 4 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 60%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and work history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Wayne
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 4 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 3 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for these judges range from 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
Terry Miller has a 68% approval rate on record since 2016, which is at the top 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 present your case effectively before this specific bench.
The approval rate for Terry Miller has fluctuated over time, starting at 59% in 2016 and reaching a high of 72% in several years before settling at 68% in the latest reporting period. These shifts are common and do not guarantee a specific outcome for your case. An attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. Regardless of your judge, an attorney can help you prepare your case for the hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is organized.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Terry Miller has a 68% approval rate since 2016, your individual outcome depends on the specific medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
