Approval rates
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Helen Valkavich's 60% approval rate is measured against the NHC Chicago office average of 54%, the Illinois state average of 54%, and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical basis for comparison, though they reflect past decisions rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Valkavich'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 2017, Helen Valkavich has issued 2,629 decisions. Her approval rate has varied over this period, moving from 53% in 2017 to 60% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. This recent pattern remains consistent with the higher approval levels seen since 2024.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Valkavich'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 NHC Chicago hearing office
NHC Chicago is the most recent office on record for Helen Valkavich as of July 2026. This office is supported by a bench of 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. The office maintained a 54% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Chicago
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you are assigned a judge randomly. Within the NHC Chicago office, approval rates among the 9 judges who decided cases in SSA's latest file range from 17% to 88% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. This variation highlights why focusing on the strength of your evidence is more important than the specific judge assigned to your case.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Valkavich's 60%. All five last decided cases in Illinois.
- 60% Approval rate, last 12 months Lovert F. Bassett
- 59% Approval rate, last 12 months Kevin Vodak
- 59% Approval rate, last 12 months Brian Lucas
- 61% Approval rate, last 12 months Roxanne Fuller
- 58% Approval rate, last 12 months Robert H. Schwartz
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Valkavich and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Helen Valkavich's 60% approval rate is higher than the 54% average for the NHC Chicago office. While this is a useful benchmark, every case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Helen Valkavich has fluctuated since 2017, moving from 53% in 2017 to a high of 62% in 2025, before settling at 60% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. These trends reflect changes in case volume and the evidence presented. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
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. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Helen Valkavich's 60% rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is one data point among many. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare for the hearing process.
