Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Schaefer, Michael

MADISONWisconsin Stable

-32.7 pts vs national average

25.0%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge25.0%

MADISON58.5%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

Fully favorable

25.0%

Partially favorable

0.0%

Denials

75.0%

Total dispositions

Dismissals

0.0%

Awards

3-year trend

Stable

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav. 25.0%Partially fav. 0.0%Denied 75.0%

Approval rate history

FY2015

65.2%132 dec

FY2016

61.4%277 dec

FY2017

75.1%293 dec

FY2018

62.1%359 dec

FY2019

62.7%421 dec

FY2020

51.5%427 dec

FY2021

50.9%426 dec

FY2022

59.6%384 dec

FY2023

62.3%297 dec

FY2024

63.1%417 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at MADISON (5)

Freyberg, Gary A.
51 dec76.5%
Jacobson, Joseph
349 dec75.4%
Pyrtel, Ahavaha
275 dec63.3%
Parker, Guila
108 dec60.2%
Monahan, Camille
124 dec50.8%

Judges in Wisconsin with the most decisions

Schwalbach, Nicholas J.
MILWAUKEE384 dec
Bedwell, Brent C
MILWAUKEE338 dec
Rouf, Arman
MILWAUKEE332 dec
Shenkenberg, William
MILWAUKEE323 dec
O'Grady, Margaret J
MILWAUKEE287 dec

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.