Approval rates
Comparing Alice F. Blackmore's performance requires looking at both lifetime and latest-period data. Her lifetime approval rate of 63% sits within the broader 36% to 83% range observed across the Oak Park bench. In the most recent reporting period, she approved 75% of cases, which is 9 percentage points higher than the office-wide latest-period average. 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 Blackmore'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
Alice F. Blackmore has issued 945 decisions since her record began in 2023. Her approval rate has shown a recent trend, moving from 56% in 2023 to 75% in the most recent reporting period. This shift reflects a change in her recent decision-making pattern compared to her earlier record. The latest period represents a departure from her historical average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Blackmore'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 Oak Park hearing office
The Oak Park hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout Michigan and the surrounding region. It maintains a diverse bench of 20 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 66%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Oak Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 20 judges on record at this office since 2016, 10 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 83% lifetime. 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
Alice F. Blackmore's latest-period approval rate of 75% is 9 percentage points higher than the 66% average for the Oak Park office. While she sits above the office average, every case is unique. An attorney can help you determine how to best present your medical evidence to meet the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, Alice F. Blackmore's approval rate has trended upward. After an approval rate of 56% in 2023, her latest-period rate reached 75%. This indicates a shift in her recent decision patterns, though past performance does not guarantee future outcomes in your specific case. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency and fairness. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney to prepare a robust case is the most effective way to improve your chances of approval.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history, daily limitations, and medical conditions. Having an attorney present can help you navigate these questions and ensure your testimony aligns with the evidence in your file.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your hearing. While Alice F. Blackmore has approved 63% of cases over her 945 lifetime decisions, your outcome depends on the specific merits of your disability claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing process.