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Updated July 2026 · SSA Public
Administrative Law Judge
58.9%lifetime approval
vs baselines
This judge58.9%
DES MOINES48.9%
National avg57.7%
Total decisions
421
Fully favorable
185
43.9%
Partially favorable
63
15.0%
Denials
173
41.1%
Total dispositions
462
Dismissals
41
8.9%
Awards
248
3-year trend
Stable
FY2026 decision breakdown
Fully fav.
Partial
Denied
Fully fav. 43.9%Partially fav. 15.0%Denied 41.1%
Approval rate history
FY2017
73.9%257 dec
FY2018
70.9%409 dec
FY2019
71.8%369 dec
FY2020
66.3%306 dec
FY2021
60.0%210 dec
FY2022
65.3%124 dec
FY2023
55.9%102 dec
FY2024
64.6%285 dec
Above national Below national National avg
Other ALJs at DES MOINES (7)
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.