Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Lauren G. Burstein has a 44% approval rate since 2016, her latest-period approval rate is 39%, which is 19 percentage points below the Livonia MI office average of 58%. These figures are derived from 3,274 decisions on record.
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 Burstein'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, beginning at 51% in 2016 and moving to 39% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. The data reflects a period of variation, with rates reaching a high of 51% and a low of 39% over the last decade. The most recent period shows a decline compared to the overall average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Burstein'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 Livonia MI hearing office
The Livonia MI hearing office is the most recent office on record for Lauren G. Burstein, with activity recorded through July 2026. This office serves the surrounding Michigan region and maintains a bench of 18 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Livonia MI hearing office, there are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 8 of them having decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 44% to 74% since 2016.
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
Lauren G. Burstein has an approval rate of 44% since 2016, while the range for all judges at the Livonia MI office is 44% to 74%. In the latest reporting period, her approval rate was 39%, which is 19 percentage points lower than the office average of 58%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over the years. It started at 51% in 2016 and is currently at 39% for the partial 2026 fiscal year. These shifts are common and often depend on the types of cases being heard. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on building a strong case with the help of an attorney.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you ensure your testimony is clear and your evidence is properly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Lauren G. Burstein's 44% rate since 2016 provides context, the most important factor in your case is the quality of your medical documentation. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to give your case the best chance of success.
