Approval rates
Judge Neary’s approval performance is measured against local and national benchmarks to provide context for your upcoming hearing. With a lifetime approval rate of 59%, his record is consistent with the broader trends seen across the Fort Wayne Hearing Office and the state of Indiana. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 1,837 lifetime decisions, offering a reliable look at historical patterns.
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 Neary'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 3 years on the bench, Judge Neary has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. After an initial approval rate of 61% in 2016, the data shows an adjustment in subsequent years, settling into a steady pattern. This trend reflects a standard evolution for an ALJ as you manage a diverse caseload. The data suggests a stable decision-making process that remains closely aligned with regional norms.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Neary'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 scheduled?
About the Fort Wayne hearing office
The Fort Wayne Hearing Office serves a broad population across Indiana, managing a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 60%, the facility maintains a standard for evaluating medical and vocational evidence. You can expect a professional environment focused on the specific requirements of your claim. You can see the Fort Wayne Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Fort Wayne Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 45% to 67%. While you cannot choose your judge, understanding the office-wide environment helps in preparing your evidence. You can find more information on the Fort Wayne Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically 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.