Approval rates
Judge DeLaittre maintains a lifetime approval rate of 78%, which stands in contrast to the 51% approval rate currently seen across the Omaha Hearing Office. When compared to the national average of 58%, this judge's record is notably higher. These figures are derived from a docket of 19,042 lifetime decisions, providing a statistical baseline. 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 DeLaittre'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
Over his 10 years on the bench, Judge DeLaittre has maintained a consistent approval pattern. While yearly fluctuations have occurred, such as the 84% approval rate in 2018, the trend has remained stable. The most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 74%, which remains above the office and state averages of 51%. This steady pattern suggests a predictable approach to evaluating your disability claim based on the evidentiary record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge DeLaittre'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.
Hearing with Judge DeLaittre? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Omaha hearing office
The Omaha Hearing Office serves you and other claimants throughout Nebraska and surrounding regions. It is staffed by a team of 6 Administrative Law Judges who manage a high volume of disability appeals. The office currently reports an approval rate of 51%, reflecting the nature of the cases heard in this jurisdiction. You can visit the Omaha Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Omaha Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 30% to 78%. Because each judge has a unique approach to testimony and evidence, understanding the local bench is helpful. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.