Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While Ambrose has a 68% lifetime approval rate, his latest-period performance shows an 83% approval rate, which sits 30 points above the current 53% average for the Lansing hearing office. These figures are derived from 3,854 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Ambrose'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 record for Ambrose, spanning from 2016 to 2026, shows a dynamic trend in approval outcomes. After a period of fluctuation between 2020 and 2023, the data indicates a recent upward trajectory in approvals. The latest reporting period shows an 83% approval rate, which is a shift from the lifetime average of 68%. This recent uptick may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented during your hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ambrose'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 Lansing hearing office
The Lansing hearing office serves you throughout Michigan and the surrounding region. It is staffed by a bench of 9 judges on record, with a current office-wide latest-period approval rate of 53%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the specific medical and vocational evidence of your disability claim. See the Lansing hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges on record at this office since 2016, 5 of whom reported in SSA's latest period. Across the bench, lifetime approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 37% to 68%. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Ambrose has a lifetime approval rate of 68%, which sits within the 37% to 68% range observed among the 9 judges on record at the Lansing office. In the latest reporting period, his 83% approval rate is 30 points higher than the office average of 53%. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might influence your hearing strategy.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. After reaching a low of 54% in 2021, the approval rate for Ambrose has risen steadily, reaching 83% in the most recent reporting period. This shift highlights the importance of reviewing the most current data for your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is best to prepare for your hearing with the expectation that any judge at the office could be assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your symptoms limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. While Ambrose has a lifetime approval rate of 68%, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and your ability to prove disability under SSA rules. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing.