Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Patrick M. Horan has an approval rate of 63% on record since September 2023, his latest-period performance shows an approval rate of 67%. This latest figure sits 1 point above the Oak Park office average of 66%, 7 points above the state average, and 9 points above the national average. These figures provide a snapshot of recent activity, though 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 Horan'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 approval pattern for Patrick M. Horan shows a trend across the 918 decisions on record since September 2023. After an initial period in 2023, the approval rate was 60% throughout 2024 and 2025. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date data shows an approval rate of 68% over 393 decisions. This recent shift reflects the volume of favorable outcomes compared to your earlier baseline.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Horan'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 Park hearing office
Patrick M. Horan's most recent office on record is the Oak Park hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the Michigan region and maintains a bench of 19 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 66%, reflecting the local environment for disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Park
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oak Park office, and 9 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 36% to 83% on their 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
Patrick M. Horan's latest-period approval rate of 67% is 1 point higher than the Oak Park office average of 66%. While this provides context, remember that every case is unique and an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the data shows a shift in outcomes. While Patrick M. Horan maintained a 60% approval rate through 2024 and 2025, the 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate is 68%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Oak Park office. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge reviews the evidence of your disability. You will likely be asked questions about your medical history and work limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are properly presented.
