Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Donald K. Neely has a 69% approval rate across all decisions on record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate of 69% sits 9 percentage points above the Baltimore office's latest-period average of 60%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable look at past decision-making.
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 Neely'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 Donald K. Neely has shown fluctuations since 2016, ranging from a low of 61% in 2016 to a high of 78% in 2022. Following that peak, the rate was 76% in 2024, 71% in 2025, and 69% in the partial year of 2026. This pattern indicates that while decisions remain consistent, the latest period reflects a continuation of established approval trends.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Neely'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore hearing office serves claimants across Maryland and the surrounding region. As of July 2026, it remains the most recent office on record for Donald K. Neely. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 60%, which provides a benchmark for the local bench. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore office, with 8 of them having decided cases here in the latest file. Approval rates for this bench range from 32% to 79% 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
Donald K. Neely's latest-period approval rate of 69% is 9 percentage points higher than the Baltimore office's latest-period average of 60%. Because case assignment is random, working with a qualified attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time, starting at 61% in 2016 and reaching 69% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how your evidence fits into these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, meaning your assignment is effectively random. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational documentation you provide to support your disability claim. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case.
