Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing prospects, compare Judge Tews's performance against broader benchmarks. With a lifetime approval rate of 68%, this judge currently tracks 1 percentage point above the Miami Hearing Office average and higher than the 58% national average. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,225 lifetime decisions, providing a statistical baseline. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 Tews'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 one-year tenure, Judge Tews has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability adjudication. The 68% lifetime approval rate reflects a steady pattern of decision-making. While recent data shows the judge performing slightly above the local office average, this consistency suggests a predictable judicial process. The current trend indicates that the judge's approach remains aligned with their established history of evaluating evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Tews'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 Tews? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Miami hearing office
The Miami Hearing Office serves a large population throughout the region, managing a high volume of cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an average approval rate of 67%, reflecting the complex nature of the claims processed in this jurisdiction. You can expect a rigorous review of your medical and vocational evidence during your proceedings. You can see the Miami Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Miami Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary widely, ranging from 31% to 83%. Because of this variance, understanding the local office environment is a standard part of your hearing preparation. You can view the Miami Hearing Office page for more information on the local bench.
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.