Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Jacobson, Joseph

MADISONWisconsin Trending up

+17.6 pts vs national average

75.4%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge75.4%

MADISON58.5%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

349

Fully favorable

249

71.3%

Partially favorable

4.0%

Denials

24.6%

Total dispositions

397

Dismissals

12.1%

Awards

263

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Denied

Fully fav. 71.3%Partially fav. 4.0%Denied 24.6%

Approval rate history

FY2010

75.2%484 dec

FY2011

62.5%470 dec

FY2012

59.8%428 dec

FY2013

62.0%397 dec

FY2014

59.9%449 dec

FY2015

65.3%435 dec

FY2016

67.1%322 dec

FY2017

72.8%427 dec

FY2018

72.5%411 dec

FY2019

75.3%481 dec

FY2020

76.5%430 dec

FY2021

64.3%395 dec

FY2022

62.0%447 dec

FY2023

68.5%362 dec

FY2024

76.8%397 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at MADISON (5)

Judges in Wisconsin with the most decisions

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.