Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2016 is 65%, her latest-period approval rate of 73% sits 2 percentage points above the Long Island office average of 71%. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,232 decisions, providing a basis for understanding recent decision-making trends.
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 Allen'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
Since 2016, your judge's approval rate has fluctuated, moving from 65% in 2016 to a low of 50% in 2021 before trending upward. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 73% approval rate, consistent with the higher rates observed in 2025. This recent performance reflects a shift toward higher approval levels compared to the mid-record period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Allen'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 Long Island hearing office
The Long Island hearing office is the most recent office on record for Michelle I. Allen as of July 2026. This office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 71%, which serves as a benchmark for the local bench. You can see the Long Island Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Long Island
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge assignment is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Long Island hearing office. These judges show a broad range of approval rates, from 48% to 83% on their since-2016 records.
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
Michelle I. Allen's latest-period approval rate of 73% is 2 percentage points higher than the Long Island office average of 71%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. After a period of lower approval rates around 2021 and 2022, the approval rate has trended upward, reaching 73% in the most recent reporting period. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence with an attorney is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for these questions.
Approval rates are historical data points and do not predict the outcome of any individual hearing. While Michelle I. Allen has approved 65% of cases since 2016, your specific outcome depends on the unique medical and vocational facts of your claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths against these historical patterns.
