Approval rates
Judge Halperin’s approval rate is calculated from a docket of 3,977 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, her approval rate outperformed the Evanston office average by 20 percentage points and the national average by 18 percentage points. These figures offer a window into past trends, though they should not be viewed as a guarantee of your future outcome. 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 Halperin'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 her 3 years on the bench, Judge Halperin has shown a trend in her decision-making. After a 76% approval rate in 2016, the rate was 84% in 2017 and 65% in 2018. This fluctuation across 3,977 lifetime decisions reflects how case mix and evidence quality influence annual outcomes. Her lifetime average remains high compared to broader benchmarks.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Halperin'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 Halperin? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Evanston hearing office
The Evanston (Illinois) Hearing Office manages a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 56% in the latest reporting period. If you are appearing here, you should be prepared for a review of your medical documentation and work history. You can visit the Evanston Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Evanston Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary, ranging from 46% to 76%. While these differences exist, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent. You can find more information on the Evanston 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.