Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader standards. Claudia Travis's 77% approval rate on record since 2023 sits within the 35% to 84% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook. In the latest reporting period, her 81% approval rate compares to an office rate of 60%, a state rate of 54%, and a national rate of 58%.
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 Travis'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 February 2023, Claudia Travis has issued 1,046 decisions. Her approval rate has trended from 76% in 2023 to 81% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This performance remains above the broader office, state, and national benchmarks for the latest period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Travis'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
Claudia Travis's most recent office on record is the Oak Brook hearing office. This office is part of a regional network that handles a high volume of disability hearings. The bench at Oak Brook includes 10 judges with varying approval rates, and the office-wide approval rate for the latest period was 60%.
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. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook, with approval rates ranging from 35% to 84% on their records since 2016. Of these, 2 judges decided cases in the latest SSA file from July 2026.
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
Claudia Travis has an approval rate of 77% on record since 2023, which is positioned toward the higher end of the 35% to 84% range seen among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Claudia Travis has trended upward, starting at 76% in 2023 and reaching 81% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This pattern indicates a consistent approach to case evaluation, though every claim is unique. An attorney can help you determine if your evidence aligns with the requirements for a favorable decision.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Because you cannot select your judge, it is important to prepare your case thoroughly with the help of a qualified attorney.
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, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you ensure your testimony is clear and your medical records are properly organized for the judge's review.
