Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 63% approval rate for Alice F. Blackmore covers all decisions on record since January 2023. When measured against the latest-period office, state, and national benchmarks, this judge shows a +9 point, +15 point, and +17 point variance respectively. These figures reflect recent trends rather than long-term averages.
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 Blackmore'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 trend for Alice F. Blackmore has shown variation across the 945 decisions on record since January 2023. After an approval rate of 56% in 2023, the figure moved to 63% in 2024 and 60% in 2025. The most recent data for 2026 shows a 75% approval rate, though this represents a partial fiscal year. This recent activity provides a snapshot of current decision patterns.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Blackmore'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 Oak Park hearing office
The Oak Park hearing office is the most recent office on record for Alice F. Blackmore as of July 2026. This office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 66%, providing a local benchmark for the 19 judges associated with this location. You can see the Oak Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Park
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oak Park office, and 9 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 36% to 83% on their 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
Alice F. Blackmore has an approval rate of 63% since 2023. This sits within the broader range of 36% to 83% observed among the 19 judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Park. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The approval rate for Alice F. Blackmore has fluctuated, starting at 56% in 2023 and reaching 75% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. These variations are common as case mixes change over time. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you build a strong case.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you meet the SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
