Approval rates
Evaluating an approval rate requires looking at the broader context of the hearing office. The 49% approval rate for Marc Mates is based on 1,512 decisions on record since 2016. When compared to the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Omaha, Marc Mates sits within a range of 29% to 83%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for your hearing, though they are not predictive of your specific outcome.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Mates. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mates'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 trend for Marc Mates has shown variation across the 1,512 decisions on record since 2016. After starting at 39% in 2016, the rate reached 41% in 2017, 57% in 2018, 53% in 2019, 52% in 2020, and 64% in 2021. This pattern reflects how the judge's decisions have shifted over the years on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mates'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 Omaha hearing office
Marc Mates's most recent office on record is the Omaha hearing office, with decisions there through September 2021. This office serves you if you are in Nebraska and the surrounding region, maintaining a bench of 11 judges whose most recent record is at this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Omaha
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Omaha, with approval rates ranging from 29% to 83% on their since-2016 records. Because you cannot choose your judge, focus on the strength of your medical evidence and documentation.
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
Marc Mates has an approval rate of 49% on record since 2016. Among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Omaha, approval rates range from 29% to 83%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated. It began at 39% in 2016 and rose to 57% by 2018, before settling near 52% in 2020 and reaching 64% in 2021. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, and you cannot request a specific judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
The 49% approval rate on record since 2016 is a historical average and not a prediction for your hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
