Approval rates
The 57% approval rate for Laura S. Twilley reflects a docket of 684 decisions recorded since June 2017. This figure sits within the 46% to 69% range observed among the bench of 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dayton 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 Twilley. The most recent period with decisions on record is April 26, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Twilley'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 Laura S. Twilley shows a downward trend across the data window starting in 2017. While the initial period saw a 70% approval rate, the volume of decisions increased significantly in 2018 before the rate shifted to 49% by the final recorded period in 2019. This pattern reflects activity across 684 total decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Twilley'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 Dayton hearing office
Laura S. Twilley's most recent office on record is the Dayton hearing office, with decisions there through April 2019. This office maintains a bench of 8 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can see the Dayton hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dayton
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this group vary from 46% to 69% 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
Laura S. Twilley holds a 57% approval rate on record since 2017. This falls within the 46% to 69% range of the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dayton hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a shift from a 70% approval rate in 2017 to 49% by 2019. This trend is based on 684 total decisions on record. Understanding these patterns is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have an attorney who can help you prepare for any judge.
The 57% approval rate on record since 2017 is a historical statistic, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible.
