Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how your judge's decisions align with broader trends. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Mary Ann Poulose's 57% approval rate is measured against the NHC Chicago office rate of 54%, the state rate of 54%, and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from hundreds of cases, providing a view of recent activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Poulose'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, Mary Ann Poulose has issued 3,012 decisions on record. The yearly trend shows a period of fluctuation followed by a more recent rise in approval rates, with the 57% rate over the last 12 months reflecting this upward movement compared to the 44% average since 2016. This pattern suggests that recent outcomes have trended higher than the historical average for this judge.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Poulose'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 NHC Chicago hearing office
The NHC Chicago is the most recent office on record for Mary Ann Poulose as of July 2026. This office serves you and other residents across Illinois and the surrounding region, supported by a bench of 19 judges. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Chicago
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the NHC Chicago bench, approval rates vary significantly, with the 9 judges present in the latest file ranging from 17% to 88% over the 12-month window. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Poulose's 57%. All five last decided cases in Illinois.
- 57% Approval rate, last 12 months Gregory Smith
- 57% Approval rate, last 12 months Daniel Luker
- 57% Approval rate, last 12 months David Skidmore
- 56% Approval rate, last 12 months David R. Bruce
- 58% Approval rate, last 12 months Robert H. Schwartz
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Poulose and the three closest side by side →
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
Mary Ann Poulose's 57% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, sits slightly above the office average of 54%. Among the 9 judges in the latest file, approval rates range from 17% to 88%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has shifted over time. While the rate on record since 2016 is 44% across 3,012 decisions, the most recent 12-month window shows a 57% approval rate. 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 focus on presenting the strongest possible evidence regardless of your assigned judge.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony presented in your case. An attorney can help you organize your records to meet the specific standards of your hearing.
