Approval rates
Evaluating your history requires looking at the broader context of your hearing office. While Ilene Sloan has a 35% approval rate on record since 2016, the bench at the Seattle hearing office shows a wide range of outcomes, from 21% to 93% for judges with similar records. These figures are based on 672 decisions on record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Sloan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Sloan'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
The approval rate for Ilene Sloan remained relatively steady between 2016 and 2018, with annual rates of 37%, 38%, and 34% respectively. In 2019, the rate on record was 13% across 40 decisions. This pattern reflects the 672 total decisions on record since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sloan'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 Seattle hearing office
The Seattle hearing office serves you across Washington and the surrounding region. This office features a bench of 22 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative process, though individual judge tendencies vary significantly.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Seattle
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seattle hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 93% on their records since 2016. Because of this variance, understanding the local bench is a standard part of case preparation.
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
Ilene Sloan has a 35% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 21% to 93% observed among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seattle hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Her approval rate was 37% in 2016 and 38% in 2017, before moving to 34% in 2018 and 13% in 2019. These trends are based on 672 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these past patterns might relate to your current case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case that meets the evidentiary standards of any judge.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert appear before the judge. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Ilene Sloan's 35% rate on record since 2016 provides context, the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in a decision. An attorney can help you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
