Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their peers. The 55% approval rate for Patrick J. Toal sits within the 27% to 56% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office. These figures are based on decisions made since 2016, providing a view of past performance.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Toal. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Toal'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 rate for Patrick J. Toal shifted during the period of 2016 to 2017. In 2016, the judge approved 63% of 348 decisions on record, while in 2017, the approval rate was 44% across 295 decisions. These patterns reflect past activity and help illustrate how a judge's decision-making may evolve over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Toal'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 Milwaukee hearing office
The Milwaukee hearing office serves you if you are in Wisconsin and the surrounding region. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. While the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 51%, your individual outcome depends on the specific medical evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Milwaukee
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office, and their approval rates on record since 2016 vary from 27% to 56%.
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
Patrick J. Toal has an approval rate of 55% on record since 2016. This falls within the 27% to 56% range of the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in the approval rate for Patrick J. Toal. The rate moved from 63% in 2016 to 44% in 2017. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have an attorney who can help you prepare for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and daily limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
The 55% approval rate for Patrick J. Toal is a historical statistic, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare for the hearing process.
