Approval rates
The 48% approval rate for Steven A. DE Monbreum reflects his entire record since 2016. You can compare this against the 32% to 81% range of the other 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the same. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from past cases.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge De Monbreum. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge De Monbreum'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
The approval rate for Steven A. DE Monbreum has shifted over time. After starting at 56% in 2016, the rate was 52% in 2017, 49% in 2018, 49% in 2019, 44% in 2020, 45% in 2021, and 42% in 2022. This trend is based on the 2,025 decisions on record within the data window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge De Monbreum'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 Eugene hearing office
Steven A. DE Monbreum's most recent office on record is the Eugene hearing office. This office is part of a network of hearing locations that handle disability appeals. With a bench of 10 judges, the office manages a volume of claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Eugene
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 81%.
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 A. DE Monbreum has a 48% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 32% to 81% range of the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Eugene hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Steven A. DE Monbreum has trended from 56% in 2016 to 42% in 2022. This pattern is based on 2,025 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Because assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for any judge you might draw.
The 48% approval rate for Steven A. DE Monbreum is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of the judge's historical rate.
