Approval rates
In the most recent reporting period, Judge Neuhoff recorded an approval rate of 46%, which is 8 percentage points lower than the national average of 58%. While this figure provides a snapshot of recent activity, it is important to view it alongside her 10-year career history of 20,115 lifetime decisions. These statistics offer a probability cloud from past decisions, not a prediction for your specific 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 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
Over 10 years on the bench, Judge Neuhoff has maintained a consistent approach to disability adjudication. Her approval rate has fluctuated, showing a high of 56% in 2017 and 2023. The most recent data reflects a slight decline compared to her lifetime average. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates each claim based on the specific evidence you provide.
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.
Hearing with Judge Neuhoff? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Franklin TN hearing office
The Franklin TN Hearing Office serves a significant population across Tennessee and the surrounding region. It is staffed by a team of judges who manage a high volume of SSDI claims, with an office-wide latest approval rate of 53%. You can expect a formal process focused on the objective medical evidence supporting your disability claim. You can visit the Franklin TN Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. The bench at the Franklin TN Hearing Office is diverse, with lifetime approval rates for the office's 6 ALJs ranging from 42% to 63%. Because you cannot choose your judge, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical documentation.
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.