Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Your judge's 55% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 46% to 72% range observed among the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fargo Hearing Office. In the most recent reporting period, your judge's 57% approval rate is compared against the office's 63% rate to provide context on current trends.
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 Stuber'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 2016, your judge's approval rate has shown a varied trajectory. After an initial period of fluctuation, the data indicates a trend of rising approval rates between 2022 and 2024, followed by a slight adjustment in the most recent partial fiscal year. With 3,902 total decisions on record, this pattern reflects how your judge has navigated different case volumes over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stuber'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 Fargo hearing office
Chris Stuber's most recent office on record is the Fargo Hearing Office, which serves you across North Dakota. This office maintains a bench of 7 judges who handle a diverse range of disability claims. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 63%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fargo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fargo Hearing Office. Approval rates for this bench vary from 46% to 72% on their records since 2016.
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
Chris Stuber has an approval rate of 55% on record since 2016. This falls within the 46% to 72% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Fargo Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years, showing a notable increase between 2022 and 2024 before settling at 57% in the most recent partial fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of your assigned judge.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
The 55% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your specific medical evidence and how it aligns with SSA regulations are the most important factors in your case. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible argument for your claim.
