Approval rates
The approval rate for Daniel Dadabo is based on 1,252 lifetime decisions, providing a clear view of how this judge has historically evaluated disability claims. When comparing this to the broader Evanston bench, which sees lifetime approval rates ranging from 45% to 79%, you can see where this judge sits within the local office. These figures are derived from official SSA data to help you understand the landscape of your upcoming hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Dadabo. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Dadabo'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
Daniel Dadabo's record, spanning from 2016 to 2019, shows a consistent approach to disability adjudication. After an approval rate of 56% in 2016, the rate was 68% in 2017, 65% in 2018, and 59% in 2019. This trend indicates a judge who maintains a steady decision-making philosophy across a significant volume of 1,252 lifetime decisions.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dadabo'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
The Evanston hearing office serves you throughout Illinois, operating as a key hub for the Social Security Administration. The office maintains a bench of 16 judges on record, ensuring that a wide range of disability claims are processed. You can expect a formal hearing process where your evidence quality is the primary factor in the outcome. You can see the Evanston hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges on record at this office since 2016, with lifetime approval rates varying from 45% to 79%. Because of this variance, understanding the office environment is a helpful step in your preparation. You can find more information on the Evanston hearing office page.
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
Daniel Dadabo has a lifetime approval rate of 62% across 1,252 decisions. This places the judge within the 45% to 79% range observed among the 16 judges on record at the Evanston office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific judge.
The approval rate for Daniel Dadabo has shown a steady pattern, moving from 56% in 2016 to 68% in 2017, 65% in 2018, and 59% in 2019. This consistency across 1,252 lifetime decisions suggests a stable approach to case evaluation. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure fairness and efficiency. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing.
A 62% lifetime approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your specific medical evidence and vocational factors remain the most important parts of your claim. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for the hearing.