Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. The 32% approval rate for Hon. Diane R. Flebbe reflects all 84 decisions on record since 2016. This figure sits within the 32% to 68% range observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Peoria hearing office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Flebbe. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Flebbe'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 record for Hon. Diane R. Flebbe spans 84 decisions from January 2016 to September 2016. During this window, the approval rate was 32%. Because this data represents a specific, limited timeframe, it provides a snapshot of past activity rather than a long-term trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Flebbe'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 Peoria hearing office
Hon. Diane R. Flebbe's most recent office on record is the Peoria hearing office, with decisions there through September 2016. This office serves claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 8 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and work history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Peoria
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Peoria hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 68% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Hon. Diane R. Flebbe has a 32% approval rate on her 84 decisions on record since 2016. This places her at the lower end of the 32% to 68% range seen among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Peoria hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The data for Hon. Diane R. Flebbe covers the period from January 2016 to September 2016, during which she maintained a 32% approval rate across 84 decisions. Because this record is limited to that specific window, there is no data to show a long-term trend. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence fits into the hearing process.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, meaning the assignment process is random. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of the judge assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Hon. Diane R. Flebbe has a 32% approval rate on her 84 decisions on record since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.
