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Livonia MI Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Michigan · SSA Region 05

Approval Rate

57%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

8 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

247 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

2,900

awaiting hearing

ALJs

9

active judges

Livonia MI ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics

Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.

Judge Approval Rate Denial Rate Fully Favorable Total Decisions Dispositions
Robert Chavez 71.3% 28.7% 65.5% 394 457
Donald D'amato 64.6% 35.4% 59.5% 511 586
David A Mason 62.6% 37.4% 41.4% 198 230
Sarah R Smisek 59.1% 40.9% 53.3% 467 540
Anthony R. Smereka 56.6% 43.4% 47.4% 475 538
Christopher Mattia 56.4% 43.6% 46.1% 495 577
Allison Dietz 47.7% 52.3% 38.8% 480 551
Mason JR. 47.6% 52.4% 35.7% 42 46
Lauren Burstein 38.2% 61.8% 31% 335 393

Former Judges at Livonia MI

This judge has no recorded decisions at Livonia MI in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.

Judge Last Decisions Reported Approval Rate Total Decisions
Ramona L Fernandez December 2024 69% 323

Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.

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%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. Being close to the national average suggests this office's case mix and decision patterns are broadly representative of the system as a whole. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 38.2% to 71.3%, 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 8 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 247 days. There are currently 2,900 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 322 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 46.5%. 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

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Livonia MI, 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 8 months and 247 days average processing time, claimants at Livonia MI can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Livonia MI have collectively issued 3,397 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 377 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 42 to 511 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Livonia MI Hearing Office FAQ

What are my chances of approval at Livonia MI?
The average ALJ approval rate at Livonia MI is 57% for the 12 months ending July 2026. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 38.2% to 71.3%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 46.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Livonia MI?
The Livonia MI office has 9 administrative law judges. Of these, 8 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 42 to 511 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long do disability cases take at Livonia MI?
The current average wait time at Livonia MI is 8 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 247 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.
How is office data calculated?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 8 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. All statistics are drawn from publicly available SSA disposition data, updated periodically as new fiscal year reports become available.
What percentage of approvals at Livonia MI are fully favorable?
When a judge issues a fully favorable ruling, benefits begin from the claimant's requested onset date. A partially favorable ruling still awards benefits but may adjust the onset to a later date, which affects retroactive payments. The approval rate combines both outcome types. At Livonia MI, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 46.5%.
How does Livonia MI rank among other hearing offices in the state?
Of the 7 hearing offices in Michigan, Livonia MI ranks 6 of 7 with an approval rate of 57%. In terms of wait time, Livonia MI ranks 6 of 7 (8 months). Visit the Michigan overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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