Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. The data below contrasts the long-term record since 2016 against the broader bench at the Orland Park office, as well as recent performance metrics. With 4,053 decisions on record, the data provides a clear view of historical trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Sayon'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 January 2016, your approval rate for Karen Sayon has fluctuated. While the rate reached 51% in 2017 and 2023, it also saw periods of lower activity, such as 35% in 2021. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 48%, which is 5 percentage points higher than the office average for the same period. This recent performance reflects a continuation of historical variability.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sayon'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 Orland Park hearing office
The Orland Park hearing office serves you in the Illinois region. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 43%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and work history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orland Park
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 5 of them having decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 25% to 69% since 2016.
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
Judge Sayon has an approval rate of 44% since 2016, which sits within the 25% to 69% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Orland Park. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Karen Sayon has shown yearly variation, ranging from a low of 35% in 2021 to a high of 51% in 2017 and 2023. Understanding these historical fluctuations is part of building a strong case strategy with a qualified attorney.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assigned judge.
Most hearings involve testimony from you and potentially a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform work. Having an attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions Judge Sayon may ask during your hearing.
The 44% approval rate on record since 2016 describes past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide, which an attorney can help you organize.
