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Updated June 2026 · SSA Public
Administrative Law Judge
Mellman, Nathan
CHICAGO Trending up
-17.9 pts vs national average
39.8%lifetime approval
vs baselines
This judge39.8%
CHICAGO55.3%
National avg57.8%
Total decisions
251
Fully favorable
72
28.7%
Partially favorable
28
11.2%
Denials
151
60.2%
Total dispositions
315
Dismissals
64
20.3%
Awards
100
3-year trend
Rising
FY2025 decision breakdown
Fully fav.
Partial
Denied
Fully fav. 28.7%Partially fav. 11.2%Denied 60.2%
Approval rate history
FY2016
29.9%187 dec
FY2017
32.8%284 dec
FY2018
41.2%408 dec
FY2019
41.6%466 dec
FY2020
39.1%391 dec
FY2021
38.4%289 dec
FY2022
36.5%290 dec
FY2023
43.3%245 dec
FY2024
50.4%375 dec
Above national Below national National avg
Other ALJs at CHICAGO (9)
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.