Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Steven H. Templin compared to the range of other judges who have decided cases at the Oak Brook Hearing Office. The data is based on 831 total decisions on record from January 2016 through September 2019. These figures provide a statistical view of past activity rather than a guarantee of future outcomes.
Judge Templin is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Templin isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Templin'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
Steven H. Templin's approval rate on record since 2016 reflects a total of 831 decisions. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 70% in 2016, 83% in 2017, 77% in 2018, and 74% in 2019. These figures represent the complete data window available for this judge on the SSA record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Templin'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 Oak Brook hearing office
The Oak Brook Hearing Office serves you in Illinois and the surrounding region. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, reflecting the office's capacity to manage a significant volume of local disability claims. You can see the Oak Brook Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 2 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 35% to 77% on their since-2016 records. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 2 of them having decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Steven H. Templin has a 76% approval rate on record through 2019. This sits within the 35% to 77% range of the 2 judges who decided cases at the Oak Brook Hearing Office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these figures relate to your specific case.
Steven H. Templin's approval rate was 70% in 2016, 83% in 2017, 77% in 2018, and 74% in 2019. These figures are based on 831 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your work history are the primary factors in any disability claim. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to present the strongest possible case.
