Approval rates
Comparing Matthew C. Dawson's 42% approval rate on record since 2018 against the broader bench provides context for how his decisions align with local trends. While his overall rate is 42%, his latest-period approval rate of 44% sits 5 percentage points below the Omaha office's latest-period average of 49%. These figures are based on a volume of 2,509 decisions. These rates reflect historical patterns rather than the likelihood of success for your specific claim.
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 Dawson'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 March 2018, Matthew C. Dawson has issued 2,509 decisions. His yearly approval rates were 35% in 2018, 34% in 2019, 43% in 2020, 33% in 2021, 49% in 2022, 43% in 2023, 50% in 2024, 47% in 2025, and 44% in 2026. This data shows the variance in his decision-making over the last several years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dawson'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 is the most recent office on record for 11 judges, with the last recorded decision in July 2026. The office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 49%. You can view the Omaha Hearing Office page for the full roster of judges.
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 the Omaha Hearing Office, 6 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 29% to 83% on their records since 2016. You can find more information on the Omaha 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
His 44% latest-period approval rate is 5 percentage points lower than the 49% average for the Omaha Hearing Office. Because case assignment is random, you may be assigned to any of the 11 judges at this office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
Yes, his approval rate has shown variance over time, starting at 35% in 2018 and reaching 50% in 2024. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 44% approval rate, which is consistent with his long-term average of 42%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you organize your evidence.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational expert will discuss your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for the questions the judge may ask.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Matthew C. Dawson has approved 42% of cases on record since 2018, every case is decided on its own merits and evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
