Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes. While Mike Oleyar has a 48% approval rate across the total record since 2016, the latest-period performance shows a 51% approval rate, which sits 6 percentage points above the Wilkes Barre office average of 45% for the same period. These figures are derived from a volume of 2,455 decisions on record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Oleyar'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 September 2016, Mike Oleyar has presided over 2,455 decisions. The approval rate has fluctuated over this period, showing a peak in 2023 at 69% before settling into 51% in the latest reporting period. This recent figure represents a deviation from the long-term average, though it remains within a range consistent with historical activity. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, suggesting that case outcomes remain sensitive to the specific evidence you present in your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Oleyar'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 Wilkes Barre hearing office
The Wilkes Barre hearing office is the most recent office on record for Mike Oleyar, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves claimants across Pennsylvania and is part of a regional network tasked with processing disability appeals. With 13 judges on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 45%. You can expect a structured hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Wilkes Barre hearing office, there are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 11 of whom decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 27% to 57% on their records 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
Mike Oleyar's latest-period approval rate of 51% is 6 percentage points higher than the 45% average for the Wilkes Barre hearing office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Mike Oleyar has shifted over time, ranging from a high of 75% in 2016 to 51% in the most recent reporting period. These shifts often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the evidence provided, and an attorney can help you understand how to strengthen your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations, and an attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Mike Oleyar has approved 48% of cases since 2016, but your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence; an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
