Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's since-2016 approval rate is 49%, the latest-period approval rate is 42%. This latest figure sits 13 points below the Franklin TN office average of 55%, 15 points below the state average, and 16 points below the national average. These figures are based on a docket of 3,596 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Neuhoff'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 Elizabeth P. Neuhoff has fluctuated across the 3,596 decisions on record since 2016. After reaching 56% in 2023, the rate shifted to 43% in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. This recent trend reflects a departure from the mid-range stability observed in previous years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Neuhoff'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 Franklin TN hearing office
The most recent office on record for Elizabeth P. Neuhoff is the Franklin TN hearing office, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office is supported by a bench of 14 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Franklin TN
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 10 of them having decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 29% to 76% based on 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
Elizabeth P. Neuhoff has an approval rate of 49% across 3,596 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 29% to 76% observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Franklin TN hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The approval rate for Elizabeth P. Neuhoff has varied over time, starting at 48% in 2016 and reaching 43% in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. These fluctuations are common in SSDI dockets and may be influenced by changes in case evidence or legal standards. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across all hearing offices. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge by working with an experienced attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
