Approval rates
The approval rates for Margaret J. O'Grady reflect a significant volume of cases. When compared to the broader bench at the Milwaukee hearing office, which shows a range of 27% to 56% in approval rates since 2016, these figures offer context for your upcoming hearing. The latest reporting period shows a 58% approval rate, which is 7 percentage points higher than the office-wide average of 51% for the same period.
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 O'Grady'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, Margaret J. O'Grady has issued 3,574 decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates moving from 47% in 2016 to 59% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. While the rate dipped to 38% in 2019 and 39% in 2023, the most recent data indicates an increase in approvals compared to those years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge O'Grady'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 Milwaukee hearing office
Margaret J. O'Grady's most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges who handle a diverse range of disability claims. In the latest reporting period, the office-wide approval rate was 51%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Milwaukee
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 27% to 56% since 2016.
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
Margaret J. O'Grady has an approval rate of 44% on record since 2016. Among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office, approval rates range from 27% to 56%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time. While the rate was 47% in 2016, it reached 59% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy based on these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
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 regarding your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The 44% approval rate on record for Margaret J. O'Grady is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the primary factor in a favorable outcome. An attorney can help you assess how your evidence aligns with the judge's past patterns.
