Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Bernadette Freeman based on her decisions since 2016. These figures are compared against the range of other judges who have decided cases at this office in the most recent SSA data. With 953 total decisions on record, this data provides a look at past patterns.
Judge Freeman is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Freeman isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Freeman'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 2016, Bernadette Freeman has issued 953 decisions. The approval rate was 81% in 2016, 87% in 2017, 88% in 2018, 76% in 2019, and 74% in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Freeman'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 Oak Brook hearing office
The Oak Brook Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Bernadette Freeman as of September 2020. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. The 2 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 35% to 77% on their since-2016 records.
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
Bernadette Freeman has an 84% approval rate on record through 2020. This is compared to the range of 35% to 77% for the 2 judges who decided cases at the Oak Brook office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
Yes, the approval rate for Bernadette Freeman has fluctuated since 2016. It reached a high of 88% in 2018 before moving to 74% in 2020. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical observation based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Bernadette Freeman decided 953 cases on record through 2020, but the outcome of your claim depends primarily on the medical evidence you present. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
