Approval rates
The approval rate for John H. Pleuss is based on 184 decisions on record since 2016. This figure sits within the 50% to 78% range observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Madison office. Comparing these rates helps you understand the historical context of your hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Pleuss. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Pleuss'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 John H. Pleuss has remained steady at 55% across his 184 decisions on record since 2016. This data window reflects a consistent pattern of decision-making during his time at the Madison office. This pattern serves as one piece of information for your hearing preparation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pleuss'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 Madison hearing office
John H. Pleuss's most recent office on record is the Madison hearing office, with his last recorded decision there in September 2016. This office serves you if you are in Wisconsin and is part of a broader regional network of hearing offices. The bench at this location consists of 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Madison
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Madison office, with approval rates ranging from 50% to 78% on their since-2016 records. While these rates vary, the core requirements for proving disability remain the same.
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
John H. Pleuss has a 55% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 50% to 78% range of the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Madison office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The approval rate for John H. Pleuss has held steady at 55% across his 184 decisions on record since 2016. This consistency provides a stable baseline for understanding his past decision-making patterns. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and sometimes a vocational or medical expert will participate. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions and procedures you may encounter.
The 55% approval rate for John H. Pleuss is a reflection of past decisions and not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets Social Security Administration disability criteria. An attorney can help you ensure your file is complete and ready for review.
