Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 51% approval rate for Jennifer B. Thomas reflects her total record since 2016, which provides a sample of 3,624 decisions. When evaluating this against the local bench, the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Nashville office range from 47% to 75% over the same period. 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 Thomas'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
Since October 2016, Jennifer B. Thomas has issued 3,624 decisions. Her approval rate has fluctuated over time, with a 53% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This is 4 percentage points lower than the 57% approval rate observed across the Nashville office during that same timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thomas'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 Nashville hearing office
Jennifer B. Thomas's most recent office on record is the Nashville hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 57%. You can see the Nashville Hearing Office page for the full roster of judges.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Nashville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Nashville office. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 47% to 75% 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
Jennifer B. Thomas has a 51% approval rate on record since 2016. Other judges at the Nashville office have since-2016 approval rates ranging from 47% to 75%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific judge.
Yes, her approval rate has varied over time. After a period of lower approval rates between 2017 and 2020, her rates increased starting in 2021. An attorney can help you analyze how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your evidence.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. While Jennifer B. Thomas has a 51% approval rate since 2016, your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a stronger case to meet the SSA's requirements.
