Approval rates
In the most recent reporting period, Judge Odell maintained an approval rate of 69%, which is 11 percentage points higher than the national average of 58%. This data is drawn from a significant docket of 25,509 lifetime decisions over a 10-year tenure. Comparing these figures to the Indianapolis Hearing Office average of 61% helps you understand the local environment. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of 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 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
Over a 10-year career on the bench, Judge Odell has seen approval rates fluctuate, starting at 46% in 2016 and reaching 71% in 2025. The trend has remained steady in recent years, with a 68% approval rate in 2024 and 71% in 2025. This latest period reflects a pattern that consistently trends above regional and national benchmarks. These shifts often mirror changes in case complexity or the specific evidence presented in the courtroom.
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.
Hearing with Judge Odell? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Indianapolis hearing office
The Indianapolis Hearing Office serves a large population across Indiana, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an average approval rate of 61%, reflecting regional trends in disability adjudication. You can expect a formal process focused on the documentation of your impairments under Social Security Administration guidelines. You can visit the Indianapolis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Indianapolis Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 48% to 72%. Because your assigned judge is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. The guidance for building a strong case remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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.