Livonia MI Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Michigan · SSA Region 05
Approval Rate
57.8%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
7 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
243 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,681
awaiting hearing
ALJs
9
active judges
Livonia MI 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald G D'amato | 64.7% | 35.3% | 58.8% | 464 | 536 |
| Robert J Chavez | 64.1% | 35.9% | 57.6% | 354 | 421 |
| Sarah R Smisek | 58.8% | 41.2% | 51.7% | 393 | 450 |
| Christopher J Mattia | 57.2% | 42.8% | 47.7% | 283 | 322 |
| Mason JR. | 57.1% | 42.9% | 39.3% | 196 | 232 |
| Anthony R Smereka | 54.6% | 45.4% | 49.4% | 441 | 522 |
| Allison Dietz | 49.7% | 50.3% | 41.6% | 449 | 512 |
| Ramona L Fernandez | 43.5% | 56.5% | 39.1% | 46 | 57 |
| Lauren G Burstein | 41.6% | 58.4% | 37.1% | 202 | 247 |
About the Livonia MI Social Security Hearing Office
Livonia MI is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Michigan. Operating within SSA Region 05, the office has 9 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 57.8%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. Being close to the national average suggests this office's case mix and decision patterns are broadly representative of the system as a whole. Judge approval rates at this office range from 41.6% to 64.7%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 7 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 243 days. There are currently 1,681 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 187 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 46.9%. 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 Livonia MI Hearing Office Data
Livonia MI shows a moderate degree of variation across its bench, which is common among offices of this size. While all judges apply the same federal disability standards, differences in how they weigh medical evidence, vocational factors, and hearing testimony may contribute to varying outcomes.
With an average wait time of 7 months and 243 days average processing time, claimants at Livonia MI can expect a total timeline of roughly 15 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Livonia MI have collectively issued 2,828 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 314 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 46 to 464 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Livonia MI Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Livonia MI?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 41.6% to 64.7%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 46.9%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Livonia MI?
How long do disability cases take at Livonia MI?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 15 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.