Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at both lifetime averages and recent trends. Judge Schmidt maintains a lifetime approval rate of 37%, which sits 18 points below the current 55% average at the Des Moines Hearing Office and 21 points below the 58% national average. With a docket spanning 15,036 lifetime decisions, these figures provide a stable view of historical outcomes. These statistics reflect past trends rather than the specific merits of your claim.
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 Schmidt'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
Over 8 years on the bench, the approval rate for Judge Schmidt has shown notable fluctuations. After an initial 50% approval rate in 2018, the data indicates a period of change followed by a recent stabilization at 35% in 2024 and 2025. This pattern suggests a consistent application of evidentiary standards in the most recent reporting periods. Reviewing these trends helps you understand how evidence is weighed in your case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Schmidt'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.
Hearing with Judge Schmidt? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Des Moines hearing office
The Des Moines Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Iowa, managing a high volume of disability appeals. This office currently reports a 55% approval rate, which is a key benchmark for local cases. You can expect a formal process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the Des Moines Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates across the Des Moines bench vary, reflecting the diverse nature of disability claims and the specific evidence presented in each hearing. Regardless of which judge is assigned to your file, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain the same. You can view the full range of ALJ performance at the Des Moines Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.