Approval rates
Judge Wenzel has established a consistent approval record over his 7 years on the bench, currently trending 17 percentage points above the Chicago office average. This data is derived from 7,732 lifetime decisions, providing a robust sample size for understanding his historical approach to disability claims. By comparing his performance against the 56% office-wide and 58% national averages, you can better understand the landscape of your upcoming hearing. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Wenzel'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
Throughout his tenure, Judge Wenzel has maintained a stable approval pattern, with annual rates fluctuating between 69% and 78%. After a peak in 2019, the approval rate saw a slight dip in 2021 before returning to 73% in 2022. This consistency suggests a steady approach to evaluating evidence and applying Social Security Act regulations. The recent data reflects a continuation of this long-term pattern, indicating that his decision-making process remains well-aligned with his historical averages.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wenzel'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.
Hearing with Judge Wenzel? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Chicago hearing office
The Chicago Hearing Office serves a large population across Illinois, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 ALJ judges. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 56%, which serves as a benchmark for the region. You should expect a professional environment focused on the thorough review of medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Chicago Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Chicago office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 41% to 73%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical documentation regardless of who is presiding. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.