Approval rates
Comparing judicial approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 49% approval rate for Matthias D. Onderak reflects all decisions on record since January 2016, which compares to the 49% to 57% range of other judges at the Evansville office. In the most recent reporting period, your judge's 60% approval rate sits 5 points above the office average of 55%.
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 Onderak'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 rate for Matthias D. Onderak has shown an upward trend over the 2,989 decisions on record since January 2016. While the rate fluctuated between 45% and 51% during the first several years, recent data indicates a shift toward higher approval figures. The 60% approval rate in the latest period represents an increase compared to the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Onderak'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 Evansville hearing office
The most recent office on record for Matthias D. Onderak is the Evansville hearing office, with data current through July 2026. This office serves claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 7 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Evansville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 49% to 57% on their since-2016 records.
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
Matthias D. Onderak has an approval rate of 49% on record since 2016, which sits within the 49% to 57% range of other judges at the Evansville office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Matthias D. Onderak has trended upward in recent years. While the rate was 45% in 2016, it reached 60% in the most recent partial year of data. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your daily activities and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The 49% approval rate for Matthias D. Onderak is a summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and evidence quality is the most important factor. An attorney can help you build a strong case for your specific situation.
