Grand Rapids Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Michigan · SSA Region 05
Approval Rate
57.7%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
6 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
211 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,512
awaiting hearing
ALJs
6
active judges
Grand Rapids ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics
Individual judge statistics for FY 2025. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.
| Judge | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Fully Favorable | Total Decisions | Dispositions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Raterink | 73% | 27% | 67.8% | 407 | 477 |
| Nicholas M Ohanesian | 70.9% | 29.1% | 67.4% | 227 | 265 |
| Kevin Himebaugh | 65.7% | 34.3% | 56.3% | 460 | 522 |
| Cynthia S Harmon | 59.3% | 40.7% | 48.6% | 430 | 494 |
| William G Reamon | 43.2% | 56.8% | 35.1% | 382 | 451 |
| Robert J Tjapkes | 40.3% | 59.7% | 25.3% | 466 | 534 |
About the Grand Rapids Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the Grand Rapids hearing office in Michigan as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 05, 6 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.
The office's average approval rate is 57.7%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 40.3% to 73%, a 33-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 6 months, which is notably shorter than the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 211 days. There are currently 1,512 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 252 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 50.1%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.
How to Interpret Grand Rapids Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Grand Rapids, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.
With an average wait time of 6 months and 211 days average processing time, claimants at Grand Rapids can expect a total timeline of roughly 13 months from hearing request to decision. The faster-than-average processing at this office means cases may move through the system more quickly.
Judges at Grand Rapids have collectively issued 2,372 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 395 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 227 to 466 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Grand Rapids Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Grand Rapids?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 40.3% to 73%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 50.1%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Grand Rapids?
How long do disability cases take at Grand Rapids?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 13 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.