Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Garelick has issued 16,801 lifetime decisions. While the latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 43%, this sits alongside the broader Chicago Hearing Office average of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than a guaranteed outcome for your specific claim.
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 Garelick'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 Garelick has navigated a variety of caseloads, with annual approval rates ranging from 36% to 52%. The data shows a period of higher approval rates between 2017 and 2019, followed by a more recent stabilization in the low 40s. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, suggesting that the judge's approach to evidence and testimony remains consistent. These trends provide a look at how the judge has historically evaluated the medical and vocational evidence presented in your SSDI claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Garelick'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 Garelick? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Chicago hearing office
The Chicago Hearing Office serves a significant population across Illinois, managing a high volume of disability hearings. With 6 judges currently on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 56%. You can expect a review of your medical records and vocational history during your appearance. You can visit the Chicago 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Chicago Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 41% to 69%. Because of this variance, understanding the local bench is a standard part of your case preparation. You can review the Chicago Hearing Office page for more information on the local bench.
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.