Approval rates
Judge Skidmore maintains a lifetime approval rate of 59% based on 19,666 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate of 57% tracks closely with the Chicago office average of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in his courtroom over the last decade.
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 Skidmore'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 10 years on the bench, Judge Skidmore has shown a consistent approach to disability adjudication. While his annual approval rates have fluctuated—ranging from a low of 53% to a high of 69%—the overall trend reflects a stable decision-making pattern. The most recent data indicates that his current approval rate remains well-aligned with his long-term historical average, suggesting he maintains a steady evidentiary standard for the cases you present.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Skidmore'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 Skidmore? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Chicago hearing office
The Chicago Hearing Office serves a large population across Illinois, managing a high volume of SSDI claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where caseloads are distributed to ensure timely processing. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can visit the Chicago 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 your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Chicago office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 ALJs range from 41% to 69%. Because of this variance, understanding the general environment of the office is helpful, but the core requirements for proving your disability remain constant.
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.