Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Bonny S. Barezky based on 3,288 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2025. These figures provide a statistical overview of past activity. The data reflects a significant volume of cases, offering a broad look at the judge's history.
Judge Barezky is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Barezky isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Barezky'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
Bonny S. Barezky has issued 3,288 decisions on record since 2016. Yearly approval rates show fluctuations, with the rate reaching 89% in 2021 before shifting to 79% in 2025. This data reflects activity through September 2025.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Barezky'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 Chicago hearing office
The Chicago hearing office is the most recent office on record for Bonny S. Barezky as of September 2025. This office maintains a bench of 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Chicago hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Chicago
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 41% to 70% on their since-2016 records. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 8 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Bonny S. Barezky's 82% approval rate on record since 2016 sits above the 41% to 70% range seen among the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. Comparing these rates can provide context, but a qualified attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence fits into the hearing process.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years, moving from 87% in 2016 to 79% in 2025. These shifts are based on 3,288 total decisions on record. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, a free case review can provide clarity. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random assignment algorithm to distribute cases among the judges at the Chicago hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing before any judge assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Bonny S. Barezky's history provides data, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the medical and vocational evidence you present. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for the judge.
