Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Laura Chess maintains a 62% lifetime approval rate, her latest-period performance shows a 68% approval rate, which sits 3 points above the MT Pleasant MI office average of 65%. These figures are based on 4,531 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 Chess'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, the approval trend for Laura Chess has shown an upward trajectory. While the rate remained steady in the early part of the record, the latest period reflects a continuation of this higher approval pattern. This shift may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented at hearings. The data shows a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Chess'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 Mt Pleasant MI hearing office
The MT Pleasant MI hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 8 judges on record. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 65%, reflecting the local administrative environment. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the MT Pleasant MI Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 8 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 30% to 63% on lifetime records. Your preparation remains consistent 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
Laura Chess has a lifetime approval rate of 62%, which sits within the office-wide lifetime range of 30% to 63%. In the latest reporting period, her 68% approval rate is 3 points higher than the office average of 65%. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might impact your specific case.
Yes, the data shows a rising trend in approval rates over the record window starting in 2016. While the rate was 59% in 2016, it reached 67% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing by analyzing how these trends align with your medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Regardless of your assigned judge, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the necessary evidentiary standards.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of a future outcome. While Laura Chess has a 62% lifetime approval rate, your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and testimony. An attorney can help you build a strong case that addresses the specific requirements of the Social Security Act.