Approval rates
When you look at the data for Judge Fina, you see a consistent history of decision-making that often trends above the broader office and national averages. In the latest reporting period, the judge maintained a 66% approval rate, which is 4 points higher than the Oak Brook office average and 3 points above the national average of 58%. These figures are drawn from a significant docket of 22,223 lifetime decisions, providing a stable look at the judge's history. 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 Fina'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 a decade on the bench, Judge Fina has shown a steady approach to disability claims. While the approval rate saw some fluctuation between 2020 and 2022, the trend has moved upward in recent years, reaching 65% in 2025. This pattern reflects a consistent application of Social Security Administration guidelines. Understanding these shifts can help you and your representative focus on the specific medical evidence required for your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fina'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 Fina? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Oak Brook hearing office
The Oak Brook (Illinois) Hearing Office serves a large population across the region, managing a high volume of cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 57%, which is slightly below the national average. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the full roster of judges on the Oak Brook Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Oak Brook office, the bench is diverse, with lifetime approval rates for the 6 judges ranging from 34% to 83%. Because you are assigned randomly, you may find yourself before a judge with a different history than Judge Fina. You can view the full roster of judges on the Oak Brook Hearing Office page.
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.