Approval rates
Understanding how a judge's approval rate compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. Michael F. Colligan has an approval rate of 67% across 323 decisions on record since January 2016. This figure sits within the broader range of 28% to 74% observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Pittsburgh hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Colligan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Colligan'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 pattern for Michael F. Colligan is based on 323 decisions on record since January 2016. The data shows a 67% approval rate in 2016, followed by a limited number of decisions in 2017. These patterns illustrate how a judge has historically approached cases, though every individual claim presents unique evidence and circumstances.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Colligan'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 Pittsburgh hearing office
Michael F. Colligan's most recent office on record is the Pittsburgh hearing office, which serves you in Pennsylvania. This office is staffed by 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal hearing process where the focus remains on the medical and vocational evidence supporting your disability claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Pittsburgh hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 28% to 74% on their since-2016 records. While these figures vary, the process for presenting your medical evidence and testimony remains consistent.
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 F. Colligan has an approval rate of 67% on record since January 2016. This falls within the range of 28% to 74% seen among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Pittsburgh hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your case presentation for this specific hearing environment.
The data for Michael F. Colligan shows an approval rate of 67% across 323 decisions on record since January 2016. While the yearly trend shows high activity in 2016 and a single decision in 2017, these figures represent past patterns. An attorney can help you evaluate how your specific medical evidence aligns with current hearing standards.
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 important to be prepared for any judge by having a well-documented case. An attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure the strongest possible evidence is presented.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will discuss your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is organized for the judge.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific case. Every claim is decided based on its own unique medical and vocational evidence. An attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure the strongest possible evidence is presented to the judge.
