Back to search
Updated June 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Saame, Brian

CHICAGO Trending down

+5.9 pts vs national average

63.6%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge63.6%
CHICAGO55.3%
National avg57.8%

Total decisions

66

Fully favorable

37

56.1%

Partially favorable

5

7.6%

Denials

24

36.4%

Total dispositions

92

Dismissals

26

28.3%

Awards

42

3-year trend

Falling

FY2025 decision breakdown

Fully fav.
Fully fav. 56.1%Partially fav. 7.6%Denied 36.4%

Approval rate history

FY2015
53.6%69 dec
FY2015
59.1%66 dec
FY2016
62.7%233 dec
FY2017
62.0%229 dec
FY2018
47.0%149 dec
FY2019
61.0%118 dec
FY2020
64.8%267 dec
FY2020
0.0%0 dec
FY2021
50.0%16 dec
FY2022
100.0%6 dec
FY2022
72.7%22 dec
FY2023
100.0%4 dec
FY2024
76.2%21 dec
FY2024
72.7%11 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.