Approval rates
The approval rates for Adam Dale are based on 2,839 decisions on record since December 2017. When comparing his latest-period approval rate of 63% to the MT Pleasant MI office average of 65%, you see a difference of 2 percentage points. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in this office. 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 Dale'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 December 2017, the approval rate for Adam Dale has varied, moving from 58% in 2018 to 63% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. With 2,839 total decisions on record, the data reflects a consistent volume of activity. The latest-period approval rate of 63% is slightly higher than his overall average on record. This pattern may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dale'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 is the most recent office on record for Adam Dale as of July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 8 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 65%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence. You can see the MT Pleasant MI Hearing Office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mt Pleasant MI
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is MT Pleasant MI, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 30% to 63% based on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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
Adam Dale has a 59% approval rate on record since 2017, which sits within the 30% to 63% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is MT Pleasant MI. Because case assignment is random, you cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Adam Dale has fluctuated, starting at 58% in 2018 and reaching 63% in the 2026 fiscal year to date. While these trends provide context, they do not guarantee an outcome for your case. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate your evidence against these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. Regardless of which judge is assigned to your case, an attorney can help you organize your medical records to meet the SSA's disability criteria.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. Adam Dale and other judges will evaluate whether your impairments meet the SSA's definition of disability. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are complete before your hearing date.
The 59% approval rate for Adam Dale represents a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well it aligns with SSA regulations. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your case and strengthen your application before you appear before the judge.
