Approval rates
At the Orland Park hearing office, the bench shows a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 25% to 69%. Because your case is assigned randomly, your outcome depends on the specific evidence you present to support your claim. These aggregate rates reflect past decisions rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Johnson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Johnson'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
Matthew Johnson has presided over 1,472 lifetime decisions since 2016. His approval rate was 57% in 2016, 49% in 2017, 45% in 2018, and 48% in 2019. These figures provide a historical view of his docket and do not dictate the outcome of your specific hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Johnson'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 Orland Park hearing office
The Orland Park hearing office serves claimants throughout the region as a hub for SSDI hearings in Illinois. With 9 judges on record, the office manages a complex caseload. You can view the /disability-benefits/hearing-offices/orland-park-IL Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, so you cannot choose your judge. There are 9 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, reflecting the diverse approaches judges take toward evidence.
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
Matthew Johnson has a lifetime approval rate of 49% across 1,472 decisions. This places him within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 25% to 69%. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your evidence to meet the requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, his approval rate shifted from 57% in 2016 to 48% by 2019. If you are concerned about how these trends might affect your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare a robust case.
No, the SSA assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm. You do not have the ability to select or request a specific judge for your hearing. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of your judge assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for the types of questions you will face during your hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality and completeness of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your file is complete and ready for the hearing.