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Updated June 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Smiley, Jennifer

SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE Trending up

+22.5 pts vs national average

80.3%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge80.3%
SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE60.9%
National avg57.8%

Total decisions

213

Fully favorable

107

50.2%

Partially favorable

64

30.0%

Denials

42

19.7%

Total dispositions

306

Dismissals

93

30.4%

Awards

171

3-year trend

Rising

FY2025 decision breakdown

Fully fav.
Partial
Denied
Fully fav. 50.2%Partially fav. 30.0%Denied 19.7%

Approval rate history

FY2016
0.0%0 dec
FY2017
62.3%236 dec
FY2018
57.1%520 dec
FY2019
52.3%520 dec
FY2020
54.9%459 dec
FY2021
33.3%3 dec
FY2021
40.9%330 dec
FY2021
41.2%17 dec
FY2022
100.0%3 dec
FY2022
50.6%344 dec
FY2023
0.0%0 dec
FY2023
48.5%130 dec
FY2023
33.3%3 dec
FY2023
56.8%125 dec
FY2024
67.4%270 dec
Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE (23)

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.