Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. The 50% approval rate on record since 2016 is evaluated against the 45% to 79% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Evanston hearing office. With 1,852 decisions on record, this data provides a look at past patterns. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Bretthauer. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bretthauer'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 Cynthia M. Bretthauer has fluctuated across the 1,852 decisions on record since 2016. After starting at 57% in 2016, the rate saw a decline, reaching 46% in 2019 and 2020, 40% in 2021, and 55% in 2022. This trend shows that decision-making has shifted over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bretthauer'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
Cynthia M. Bretthauer's most recent SSA record (September 2022) is at the Evanston hearing office. This office includes a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where evidence quality is the primary factor in a decision.
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 their approval rates range from 45% to 79% on their since-2016 records. Because case assignment is outside of your control, understanding the office-wide bench is helpful.
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
Cynthia M. Bretthauer has a 50% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 45% to 79% range of the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Evanston hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of the specific judge assigned to your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate has varied over time. It began at 57% in 2016 and reached 40% in 2021, before rising to 55% in 2022. A qualified attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for your specific hearing.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the hearing office. Because you cannot select your judge, it is important to focus on building a strong case with the help of an experienced attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and your physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare for the specific requirements of an SSDI hearing.
