Approval rates
When reviewing the performance of Lovert F. Bassett, it is helpful to compare your judge's record against the broader bench at the Evanston hearing office. While his 74% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 45% to 79% range observed among his peers at this office, recent data shows a 63% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure is 2 points higher than the office average of 61%, 9 points higher than the state average of 54%, and 5 points higher than the national average of 58%.
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 Bassett'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
The approval rate for Lovert F. Bassett has shown fluctuations across his 4,252 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of relative stability, the data indicates an approval rate of 85% in 2023 and 83% in 2024, followed by 56% in 2025 and 63% in the first part of 2026. This recent shift in the approval rate suggests a change in the volume of favorable outcomes compared to the higher rates seen in the previous two years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bassett'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 Evanston hearing office
The Evanston hearing office recorded decisions through July 2026. This office has a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 61%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Evanston
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Evanston hearing office, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 45% to 79% based on records since 2016.
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
Lovert F. Bassett has an approval rate of 74% across 4,252 decisions on record since 2016. This places him within the 45% to 79% range of approval rates for the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Evanston hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Lovert F. Bassett has fluctuated over time. While he maintained higher approval rates in 2023 and 2024, the rate in the latest reporting period is 63%. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence of your disability. You will likely testify about your symptoms and limitations, and the judge may also hear from medical or vocational experts. An attorney can help you prepare for this process and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Lovert F. Bassett has a 74% approval rate since 2016, every case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence provided. An attorney can help you determine if your case meets the necessary criteria for approval.
