Approval rates
The 56% approval rate for Jack W. Raines reflects performance across 1,768 decisions since 2016. This sits within the 32% to 63% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Worth hearing office. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Raines. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Raines'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 Jack W. Raines has shown fluctuation across the years on record. Starting at 53% in 2016, the rate reached 59% in 2017 before trending to 53% by 2020. With 1,768 total decisions on record, these shifts reflect changes in the volume of allowances relative to total cases decided. This pattern indicates that the judge's decision-making has remained within a consistent range throughout the period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Raines'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 Fort Worth hearing office
Jack W. Raines's most recent office on record is the Fort Worth hearing office, with decisions there through September 2020. This office serves claimants across the Texas region and maintains a bench of 15 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where the focus remains on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Worth
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Worth hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 63% on their since-2016 records. You should prepare for your hearing with the understanding that your assigned judge's past performance is only one factor in your case.
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
Jack W. Raines has an approval rate of 56% across 1,768 decisions on record since 2016. This places him within the 32% to 63% range of the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fort Worth hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Jack W. Raines has fluctuated between 53% and 59% during the period from 2016 to 2020. While these yearly variations occur, the judge has maintained a consistent overall approval rate of 56% across 1,768 total decisions. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your hearing strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Because assignment is random, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
