Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Mary F. Withum based on 422 decisions on record since 2016. The broader bench at NHC Chicago includes judges who range from 26% to 63% approval on their records since 2016. These figures provide a statistical view of past activity, though they do not serve as predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Withum is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Withum isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Withum'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 Mary F. Withum stands at 43% across 422 decisions on record since 2016. This data window captures activity through September 2016. Because the record is limited to this period, the pattern reflects a single snapshot of decision-making that provides a baseline for how cases were historically handled at NHC Chicago.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Withum'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 serves you if you are in Illinois and the surrounding region. This office has a bench of 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. For more information, see the NHC Chicago hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Chicago
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across NHC Chicago, there are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 26% to 63% on their records since 2016.
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
Judge Withum has an approval rate of 43% on record since 2016. This falls within the range of 26% to 63% seen among the 19 judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Chicago. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of how your judge compares to the office average.
The data for Judge Withum covers the period from January 2016 through September 2016, during which she maintained a 43% approval rate across 422 decisions. Because the data for this judge is limited to this specific window, there is no multi-year trend to report. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence fits into this context.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that assignments remain random and impartial. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history, daily limitations, and the severity of your impairments. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how a judge will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible before your hearing.
