Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. The 48% approval rate for Marie Palachuk reflects all decisions on record since 2016, a period during which the bench at the Spokane hearing office has seen a range of outcomes from 48% to 78%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Palachuk. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Palachuk'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 Marie Palachuk has shifted over the 3,477 decisions on record since 2016. After starting with a 56% approval rate in 2016, the annual rate declined to a low of 35% in 2022. Recent data shows a recovery, with the rate climbing to 50% in 2025.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Palachuk'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 Spokane hearing office
Marie Palachuk's most recent office on record is the Spokane hearing office, which serves the Washington region. This office maintains a bench of 7 judges who have recorded decisions since 2016. You can expect a standard hearing process where the focus remains on the medical evidence and vocational factors presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Spokane
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 48% to 78% 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
Marie Palachuk has a 48% approval rate on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 48% to 78% range observed among the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is Spokane. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Marie Palachuk has fluctuated over time. It began at 56% in 2016 and reached a low of 35% in 2022 before trending upward to 50% in 2025. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence for the hearing.
The 48% approval rate for Marie Palachuk is a historical average, not a guarantee of an outcome for your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your case.
