Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. We evaluate Matthew Bring's 57% approval rate on record since 2017 against the broader bench at the Omaha office, where individual judge approval rates range from 29% to 83%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases are handled in this jurisdiction. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Bring'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 2017, Matthew Bring has issued 2,351 decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates peaking at 69% in 2022 before shifting to 53% in the most recent partial fiscal year. While the latest-period approval rate of 53% sits 4 points above the Omaha office average, it remains below the national average of 58%. This pattern suggests that recent outcomes reflect a shift from earlier, higher-approval years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bring'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 Omaha hearing office
The Omaha hearing office serves you and other claimants across Nebraska and the surrounding region. With 11 judges on record, the office maintains a steady volume of disability hearings. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 49%, providing a local benchmark for case outcomes.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Omaha
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 6 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 29% to 83%. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Matthew Bring's 57% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the 29% to 83% range observed among the 11 judges at the Omaha office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time, moving from 64% in 2018 to 53% in the most recent partial fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Because outcomes depend on case-specific facts, an attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
Approval rates are statistical summaries of past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing process.
