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Updated July 2026 · SSA Public
Administrative Law Judge
59.2%lifetime approval
vs baselines
This judge59.2%
SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE59.5%
National avg57.7%
Total decisions
240
Fully favorable
110
45.8%
Partially favorable
32
13.3%
Denials
98
40.8%
Total dispositions
374
Dismissals
134
35.8%
Awards
142
3-year trend
Falling
FY2026 decision breakdown
Fully fav.
Partial
Denied
Fully fav. 45.8%Partially fav. 13.3%Denied 40.8%
Approval rate history
FY2011
60.7%366 dec
FY2012
48.7%419 dec
FY2013
51.7%526 dec
FY2014
43.5%407 dec
FY2015
42.2%455 dec
FY2016
54.4%386 dec
FY2017
57.3%410 dec
FY2018
59.5%509 dec
FY2019
59.3%423 dec
FY2020
64.5%425 dec
FY2021
70.5%325 dec
FY2022
80.8%250 dec
FY2023
66.0%188 dec
FY2024
66.8%199 dec
Above national Below national National avg
Other ALJs at SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE (24)
- Weathers, Ena220 dec81.8%
- Smiley, Jennifer255 dec78.8%
- Rauenzahn, MaryKay127 dec78.7%
- Hockensmith, Mark201 dec73.1%
- Ohanesian, Nicholas71 dec71.8%
- Alden, Randolph W214 dec66.4%
- Labrum, Robert J215 dec66.0%
- Day, Kelley214 dec65.0%
- Kramzyk, Henry114 dec64.9%
- Walter, Nicholas208 dec61.1%
- Waller, Robert61 dec60.7%
- Valkavich, Helen270 dec60.0%
- Cabotaje, Michael76 dec59.2%
- Carr, Michael46 dec58.7%
- Lucas, Brian353 dec58.1%
- Ferguson, Jeffrey A56 dec57.1%
- Nagle, Kim Soo221 dec56.1%
- Eiler, Kathleen H200 dec54.0%
- Fuller, Roxanne90 dec53.3%
- Benton, Amy33 dec51.5%
- Pierce, Katie H85 dec48.2%
- Dillon, Christopher81 dec44.4%
- Beatty, Gregory M.74 dec35.1%
- Wexler, April M40 dec25.0%
Next step
Estimate approval odds
See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.