Approval rates
The approval rate for Thomas W. Snook is based on 149 decisions recorded between January 2016 and September 2016. This figure represents the total volume of cases decided by the judge during that specific window. These statistics provide a historical view of the judge's activity rather than a forecast for any future proceedings.
Judge Snook is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Snook isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Snook'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
Thomas W. Snook's record consists of 149 decisions spanning from January 2016 through September 2016. During this period, the data shows an 83% approval rate. Because this judge is not represented in the most recent SSA data files, this record reflects the entirety of his available activity on our platform.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Snook'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 Miami hearing office
The Miami hearing office serves you and other claimants across Florida and the surrounding region. This office has a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process governed by federal regulations.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Miami
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates across the Miami hearing office bench vary, with the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 49% to 71% on their since-2016 records.
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
Thomas W. Snook's 83% approval rate on record through 2016 sits above the 49% to 71% range observed among the 8 judges who decided cases at the Miami hearing office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these historical patterns might relate to your specific case.
The available data for Thomas W. Snook covers the period from January 2016 through September 2016, during which he maintained an 83% approval rate. Because there is no data for this judge in SSA's latest files, we cannot track changes beyond 2016. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of the judge's historical data.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, which ensures that assignments remain random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing, no matter which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of a judge's past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case will be decided based on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present the strongest possible case to the judge.
