Approval rates
The approval rate for Suanne S. Strauss is based on 926 lifetime decisions recorded between 2016 and 2018. When evaluating this figure, consider the broader context of the Elkins Park hearing office, where lifetime approval rates among judges range from 33% to 82%. This variance highlights the importance of presenting a well-documented case regardless of the judge assigned. 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 Strauss. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Strauss'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 record for Suanne S. Strauss spans from 2016 through 2018, providing a view of her decision-making pattern over that period. Her approval rate was 69% in 2016, 67% in 2017, and 62% in 2018. These fluctuations are common in Social Security Administration dockets and reflect changes in the complexity or volume of cases heard during a specific year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Strauss'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 Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park hearing office serves claimants throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 25 judges on record since 2016. The office operates under the broader Office of Hearings Operations standards, where the latest-period approval rate is 61%. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can visit the Elkins Park 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 Suanne S. Strauss is essentially random. There are 25 judges on record at this office since 2016, 11 of whom are reported in the latest period. Because lifetime approval rates at this office vary widely from 33% to 82%, understanding the bench is part of thorough preparation. The guidance for your case remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned.
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
Suanne S. Strauss has a lifetime approval rate of 67%, which sits within the office-wide range of 33% to 82% for the 25 judges on record at the Elkins Park office. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, an attorney can help you prepare a case tailored to the specific standards of this hearing office.
The data for Suanne S. Strauss shows a 69% approval rate in 2016, 67% in 2017, and 62% in 2018. While these numbers show a shift, they represent a consistent volume of decisions over her time on record. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively regardless of these annual trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across the Elkins Park office. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of who is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history, daily limitations, and the severity of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is organized for the judge.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific case. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your disability under 20 CFR Part 404. An attorney can help you build a strong case that addresses the specific requirements of the law.