Approval rates
The 61% approval rate for Yvonne K. Stam reflects all decisions on record since 2016. This can be measured against the 27% to 74% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Raleigh. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding the hearing environment, though they do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Stam. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Stam'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 trend for Yvonne K. Stam across 1,761 decisions on record since 2016 shows a period of fluctuation. After an initial approval rate of 63% in 2016, the figures shifted to 66% in 2017 before declining to 56% in 2019, followed by a recovery to 59% in 2020. This pattern indicates that decision-making has varied over the years, reflecting changes in case complexity or evidentiary requirements.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stam'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 Raleigh hearing office
Yvonne K. Stam's most recent office on record is the Raleigh hearing office. This office is part of a larger network of hearing locations where 17 judges have their most recent record. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 61%, providing a general context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Raleigh
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Raleigh hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 27% to 74% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge evaluates evidence differently, understanding the broader office bench is helpful for your 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
Yvonne K. Stam has an approval rate of 61% based on 1,761 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 27% to 74% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Raleigh. An attorney can help you prepare your case by analyzing how these local patterns might affect your specific claim.
The approval rate for Yvonne K. Stam has shown variation, starting at 63% in 2016 and reaching 59% by 2020. These yearly shifts are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases or evidence presented. An attorney can help you understand how to best present your medical evidence regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare a strong, evidence-based case is the best way to ensure you are ready for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions you may face during this process.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. While Yvonne K. Stam's 61% rate provides context, your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build the strongest possible case.
