Approval rates
Comparing Patricia S. McKay's approval rate to the broader bench provides context for your upcoming hearing. While the judge has an approval rate of 41% across 2,938 decisions on record since 2016, the bench at this office shows a range of 36% to 83%. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 42% approval rate sits 24 points below the office rate of 66%, 18 points below the state rate of 60%, and 16 points below the national rate of 58%. These figures reflect past decisions rather than predictions for your 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 McKay'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, your judge's approval rate has fluctuated. The record includes 2,938 decisions, with the most recent period showing an approval rate of 42%. This latest figure is consistent with the long-term average, and yearly trends remain varied. These patterns reflect the complexity of individual cases rather than a fixed approach to your claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McKay'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
The Oak Park hearing office serves you and other claimants across Michigan. With 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 66%. You can expect a formal administrative environment where the focus remains on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your case.
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 draw is essentially random. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 9 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 83% on their since-2016 records. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Patricia S. McKay has an approval rate of 41% on record since 2016, while the bench at the Oak Park office ranges from 36% to 83%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The approval rate for Patricia S. McKay has seen fluctuations over the years, starting at 44% in 2016 and reaching 41% in the most recent partial data for 2026. These variations are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths in light of these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare your case for any potential outcome is a recommended step.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your limitations. 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 specific questions and procedures you will encounter.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
