Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Sanzi's 17% approval rate is measured against the NHC Chicago office rate of 54%, the Illinois state rate of 54%, and the national average of 58%. These figures are based on 295 decisions, providing a clear 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 Sanzi'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, Judge Sanzi has issued 2,906 decisions with an overall approval rate of 26%. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates reaching 33% in 2023 before shifting to 15% in 2025 and 17% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent 12-month rate of 17% remains lower than the long-term average recorded since 2016. Such patterns may reflect changes in the types of cases assigned or the specific evidence you present in your claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sanzi'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 Judge Sanzi, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves you if you are in Illinois and the surrounding region, maintaining a bench of 19 judges. You can expect a formal hearing process where your evidence quality is the primary factor in the outcome. See the NHC Chicago Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
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. Among the 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Chicago, 9 decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, from 17% to 88% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. For your preparation, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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 Sanzi's 17%. One of them last decided cases in Illinois. With too few close matches there, the rest come from other regions.
- 13% Approval rate, last 12 months Kathleen Kadlec
- 16% Approval rate, last 12 months Gordan Momcilovic
- 16% Approval rate, last 12 months Suzette Knight
- 18% Approval rate, last 12 months Emily Y. Howard
- 15% Approval rate, last 12 months Tammy Georgian
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 Sanzi 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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Sanzi's 17% approval rate sits at the lower end of the 17% to 88% range seen among the 9 judges at the NHC Chicago who decided cases in the latest file. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this judge.
Judge Sanzi's approval rate has varied, starting at 28% in 2016 and reaching a high of 33% in 2023, before settling at 17% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. Because these rates change, having an attorney review your case can help you prepare for the current environment. An attorney can help you navigate these shifts.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated algorithm to distribute cases, ensuring random assignment to maintain impartiality. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. Having a qualified attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends on the medical evidence and documentation supporting your SSDI claim, which an attorney can help you strengthen.
