Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Chandreka Allen's 49% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a broad view of her decision history, which you can compare against the 30% to 78% range seen among her peers at the St Louis Hearing Office. For the most recent reporting period, her 50% approval rate sits 1 point below the office average of 51%.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Allen's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
Since 2016, Chandreka Allen has issued 2,493 decisions. The yearly trend shows variance, with approval rates fluctuating from a high of 67% in 2024 to a low of 36% in 2020. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 50% approval rate, which aligns closely with her long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Allen's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the St Louis hearing office
Chandreka Allen's most recent office on record is the St Louis Hearing Office, which serves you across Missouri. This office is part of a regional network that manages a high volume of disability claims through a bench of 20 judges. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is St Louis
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the St Louis Hearing Office, 13 of whom decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 30% to 78% on their since-2016 records.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Chandreka Allen's 49% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 30% to 78% range observed among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the St Louis Hearing Office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with the expectations of judges in this office.
Yes, the approval rate for Chandreka Allen has fluctuated over time, ranging from 36% in 2020 to 67% in 2024. These shifts often reflect changes in case mix or the quality of evidence presented, rather than a change in judicial philosophy. A qualified attorney can help you build a case that addresses these variables.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to prepare a strong case that can succeed regardless of which judge is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare for this process.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Chandreka Allen has approved 49% of cases on record since 2016, your individual result depends on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
