Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 69% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a broad view of decision history, while latest-period figures offer a snapshot of recent trends. These statistics are derived from 3,396 total decisions, providing a stable basis for analysis. 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 Cravens'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 2016, the approval rate for Steven L. Cravens has shown yearly fluctuations, reaching a peak of 81% in 2022 before shifting to 66% in the most recent partial fiscal year. With 3,396 total decisions on record, the data reflects a varied history of outcomes. While the latest-period approval rate of 66% sits slightly below the office average, it remains within the expected range for the bench. This recent pattern reflects a continuation of an established decision-making history.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cravens'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 Oklahoma City hearing office
The Oklahoma City Hearing Office, which is the most recent office on record for Steven L. Cravens as of July 2026, serves you across the region. The office maintains a bench of 17 judges with varying approval rates, reflecting the diverse nature of disability claims processed in this jurisdiction. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. For more information, see the Oklahoma City Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oklahoma City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oklahoma City Hearing Office, 11 of whom decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 45% to 85% on their since-2016 records. 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
Steven L. Cravens has an approval rate of 69% on record since 2016. This falls within the 45% to 85% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oklahoma City Hearing Office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
The approval rate for Steven L. Cravens has fluctuated over time, starting at 60% in 2016 and reaching 66% in the most recent partial fiscal year. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in case complexity or evidence quality. A qualified attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses these variables.
No. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. This process is designed to be random and impartial. Regardless of your judge, an attorney can help you prepare your case for a hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for these questions.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
