Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Henry Kramzyk's 25% approval rate is measured against the NHC Chicago office rate of 54%, the state rate of 54%, and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a clear view of recent activity.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Kramzyk'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, Henry Kramzyk has issued 3,072 decisions on record. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates reaching 36% in 2024 before settling at 25% over the most recent 12-month window. This recent 25% rate is lower than the 29% average observed across the entire period since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kramzyk'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 NHC Chicago hearing office
The NHC Chicago office serves you across Illinois and the surrounding region. As of the most recent data, this office maintains a bench of 19 judges whose most recent record is at this location. You can see the NHC Chicago Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Chicago
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the NHC Chicago office, 19 judges have their most recent record here, with 9 of them deciding cases in the latest SSA file. Among these 9 judges, approval rates range from 17% to 88% over the 12-month window.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Kramzyk's 25%. One of them last decided cases in Illinois. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's Chicago region and other regions.
- 25% Approval rate, last 12 months Janet Akers
- 23% Approval rate, last 12 months Joseph G. Hajjar
- 25% Approval rate, last 12 months Thomas Cheffins
- 25% Approval rate, last 12 months Gregory Fons
- 25% Approval rate, last 12 months Robert A. Kelly
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Kramzyk and the three closest side by side →
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
Henry Kramzyk's 25% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, sits below the 54% average for the NHC Chicago office during that same period. Peer judges at this office show a wide range of approval rates, from 17% to 88% over the same 12-month window. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Henry Kramzyk has an approval rate of 29% across 3,072 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate has fluctuated annually, the most recent 12-month approval rate of 25% is lower than this long-term average. An attorney can help you understand how these trends relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on building a strong case with your attorney.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare effectively for your hearing.
