Approval rates
Judge Chavez has maintained a lifetime approval rate of 61% over his 9-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, his 64% approval rate outperformed the Livonia MI office average of 57% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 16,411 lifetime decisions, providing a stable look at his historical decision-making. These aggregate rates reflect past trends rather than specific outcomes for your case.
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 Chavez'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
Over his 9 years on the bench, Judge Chavez has demonstrated a steady decision-making pattern. While his annual approval rates have fluctuated—ranging from a high of 72% in 2017 to a low of 55% in 2021—the recent trend shows a return to higher approval levels, with a 64% rate in 2025. This latest period reflects a continuation of his long-term average, suggesting that his approach to evaluating disability claims remains consistent with his career-wide performance.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Chavez'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.
Hearing with Judge Chavez? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Livonia MI hearing office
The Livonia MI Hearing Office serves claimants across Michigan and manages a high volume of disability cases. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate that reflects the regional caseload. You can expect a professional environment where medical documentation is the primary factor in determining your eligibility. You can visit the Livonia MI Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
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 office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 55% to 73%. Because case assignment is outside of your control, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical evidence. The guidance for your hearing remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.