Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the 52% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, the latest-period approval rate of 56% offers a current snapshot of recent activity. This latest-period figure sits 5 percentage points above the Milwaukee office average of 51%. These figures are based on thousands of decisions and describe past trends rather than predicting outcomes for individual hearings.
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 Shenkenberg'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, the approval rate for William Shenkenberg has varied across 3,709 decisions on record. After reaching 58% in 2017, the rate fluctuated, including a low of 45% in 2022, before trending upward. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 56%, which aligns with the higher end of historical performance and continues the pattern observed over the last three years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Shenkenberg'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 Milwaukee hearing office
William Shenkenberg's most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, reflecting a diverse range of decision patterns. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 51%, you can expect a review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Milwaukee
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Milwaukee hearing office, there are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 27% to 56% on their since-2016 records.
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
William Shenkenberg has a 52% approval rate on record since 2016. Among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office, approval rates range from 27% to 56%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. It started at 50% in 2016, peaked at 58% in 2017, and reached 56% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these historical patterns might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. An attorney can help you prepare your evidence regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. While it provides context for the judge's history, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare for your hearing.
