Approval rates
Judge Shreese M. Wilson maintains a lifetime approval rate of 49% based on 16,399 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded an approval rate of 52%, which compares to the Peoria office average of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical snapshot of the judge's tenure over the last 10 years. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Wilson'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
Over a 10-year tenure, Judge Shreese M. Wilson has seen approval rates fluctuate within a consistent range. After initial rates of 52% in 2016, the data shows a period of lower approval rates between 2018 and 2022, followed by a recent return to 52% in 2025. This pattern suggests that while the judge's approach remains stable, the specific mix of cases and evidence quality influence annual outcomes. The recent uptick reflects a continuation of this long-term pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wilson'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 Wilson? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Peoria hearing office
The Peoria Hearing Office serves you across Illinois and is part of a regional network of SSA adjudicators. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 56%, reflecting the broader caseload handled by the local bench. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. See the Peoria Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Peoria Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 42% to 67%. While these variations exist, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain constant across all courtrooms. 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.