Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the judge's overall approval rate since 2016 is 64%, recent performance shows a 72% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 8 points above the Indianapolis office average of 64%. These metrics are derived from 4,401 total decisions on record, providing a look at the judge's history.
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 Odell'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 2016, your approval rate for Jody H. Odell has varied. After starting at 49% in 2016, the annual approval rate climbed to 72% by 2020 before experiencing fluctuations. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 72% approval rate, which is higher than the long-term average on record. This recent performance reflects a return to the higher approval levels seen earlier in the decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Odell'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 Indianapolis hearing office
The Indianapolis hearing office serves you if you are in Indiana and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 64%, you can expect a review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Indianapolis office. Approval rates among this bench range from 43% to 75% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
In the latest reporting period, Jody H. Odell maintained a 72% approval rate, which is 8 points higher than the Indianapolis office average of 64%. Because case assignment is random, working with a qualified attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a low of 49% in 2016 to 72% in the 2026 partial data. An attorney can help you understand how these historical trends might relate to the current evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical 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 strength of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare accordingly.
