Approval rates
To understand how Steven L. Butler compares to peers, you can look at the latest-period approval rate of 65% against the broader office, state, and national benchmarks. While the judge's since-2016 approval rate of 62% provides a long-term view, the most recent data shows the judge is 6 percentage points above the Dover hearing office average of 59%. These figures are derived from a docket of 3,384 decisions on record.
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 Butler'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 August 2016, the approval rate for Steven L. Butler has shown a varied trend, starting at 89% in 2016 and reaching a low of 49% in 2021 before trending upward. The most recent data from 2026 shows an approval rate of 65% across 418 decisions. This recent performance reflects a return to higher approval levels compared to the mid-record dip.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Butler'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 Dover hearing office
The most recent office on record for Steven L. Butler is the Dover hearing office in Delaware. This office maintains a bench of 6 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 59%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence, regardless of the specific judge assigned.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dover
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your case is essentially random. There are 6 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this group range from 42% to 90% on their since-2016 records. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Steven L. Butler has a 62% approval rate since 2016, which sits within the 42% to 90% range of the 6 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dover hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated, moving from 89% in 2016 to a low of 49% in 2021, before rising to 65% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly. An attorney can help you navigate the hearing process regardless of your assigned judge.
A hearing typically involves testimony from you and potentially a Vocational Expert or Medical Expert regarding your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The 62% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past outcomes, not a guarantee of how Steven L. Butler will rule on your specific claim. Your case outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and your ability to prove disability. An attorney can help you build a strong case.
