Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While the judge has an approval rate of 68% since December 2022, it is helpful to see how this aligns with the broader bench at the Peoria hearing office, where peers range from 32% to 68% on their records. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 68% approval rate sits 10 percentage points above the office average of 58%. These aggregate rates reflect past decisions rather than future outcomes.
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 Strickler'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 December 2022, the approval rate for Nathaniel E. Strickler has remained steady. The judge issued 173 decisions in 2023 at a 67% rate, 502 decisions in 2024 at 69%, and 471 decisions in 2025 at 67%. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date data shows 425 decisions with a 68% approval rate. This consistent pattern indicates a stable approach to case evaluation over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Strickler'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 Peoria hearing office
Nathaniel E. Strickler's most recent office on record is the Peoria hearing office, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves claimants in Illinois. With 8 judges on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 58%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Peoria
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Peoria hearing office, and 5 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 32% to 68% on their records. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Judge Strickler has an approval rate of 68% on record since December 2022. This is at the higher end of the range for the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is Peoria, where approval rates vary from 32% to 68%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Judge Strickler has remained steady. The rate was 67% in 2023, 69% in 2024, 67% in 2025, and is 68% for the partial 2026 fiscal year. If you are concerned about how these trends affect your claim, an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but a qualified attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of who is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence to present the strongest case possible.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify the evidence needed to meet the specific standards of your case.
