Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to their peers can provide helpful context for your hearing. The 62% approval rate for Michael Calabro is based on 1,164 decisions on record since 2016. When compared to the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orlando hearing office, this rate falls within a range of 34% to 89%. These figures reflect historical data rather than a specific outcome for your claim.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Calabro. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Calabro'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 approval rate for Michael Calabro was 60% in 2016, 60% in 2017, 66% in 2018, and 100% in 2019. The record for this judge spans from January 2016 through September 2019, covering 1,164 total decisions. These figures represent past outcomes rather than a guaranteed result for your specific case, reflecting the judge's historical decision-making process during that window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Calabro'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 Orlando hearing office
Michael Calabro's most recent office on record is the Orlando hearing office, with decisions there through September 2019. This office serves claimants across the region and is part of a larger network of hearing offices in Florida. With 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench provides a wide range of experience.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orlando
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orlando hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 34% to 89% on their since-2016 records. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your evidence.
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
Michael Calabro has a 62% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 34% to 89% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orlando hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively regardless of the judge's historical rate.
The approval rate for Michael Calabro was 60% in 2016 and 2017, rising to 66% in 2018 and 100% in 2019. These trends are based on 1,164 total decisions on record since 2016. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare 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 focus on preparing a strong case with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You may be asked questions about your work history and how your condition limits your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA requirements. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare accordingly.
