Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. Jason R. Yoder's 54% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 49% to 57% range observed among the bench at the Evansville Hearing Office. In the latest reporting period, Jason R. Yoder maintained a 56% approval rate, which is 1 percentage point higher than the office average of 55%. These figures are based on 4,492 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 Yoder'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 2016, Jason R. Yoder has maintained a consistent pattern of approvals across 4,492 decisions on record. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates moving between 50% and 58% over the last decade. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 56% approval rate, which is slightly higher than the overall average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Yoder'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 Evansville hearing office
Jason R. Yoder's most recent office on record is the Evansville Hearing Office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you in Indiana and the surrounding region, supported by a bench of 7 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Evansville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Evansville Hearing Office, and 6 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 49% to 57% on their 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
Jason R. Yoder's 54% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 49% to 57% range of the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Evansville Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Jason R. Yoder's approval rate has fluctuated between 50% and 58% over the years since 2016. The latest-period approval rate of 56% remains consistent with the judge's overall 54% average on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends may 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. Because assignment is random, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any judge you might draw.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews the evidence in your file. You will likely answer questions about your work history and medical limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence for the hearing.
The approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of the assigned judge.
