Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure the data is meaningful. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2016 is 47%, recent performance shows a 52% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This is 4 points lower than the 56% approval rate for the Valparaiso IN office during the same period. These figures are based on a volume of 2,190 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 Scales'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 Romona Scales has fluctuated across the 2,190 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of lower approval rates between 2018 and 2023, the data shows a shift in 2024 and 2025. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 52%, which indicates a divergence from the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Scales'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 Valparaiso IN hearing office
The most recent office on record for Romona Scales is the Valparaiso IN hearing office, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. With 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 56%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Valparaiso IN
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 6 of them having decided cases in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 42% to 83% 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
Romona Scales has an approval rate of 47% on record since 2016. Among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, approval rates range from 42% to 83%. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Romona Scales has varied over time, starting at 54% in 2016 and reaching 52% in the most recent fiscal year to date. These fluctuations are common as case types and evidence standards evolve. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical documentation.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge by working with an attorney who understands the local hearing environment.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you present your evidence clearly and effectively during this process.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Romona Scales has a 47% approval rate since 2016, your case will be decided based on the unique medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
