Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's 48% approval rate covers the entire period since 2016, latest-period data allows for a more current view of how the bench is deciding cases. At the Livonia MI office, your judge's latest-period approval rate of 49% sits 9 points below the office's latest-period average of 58%. These figures rely on a significant docket size, providing statistical context for your 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 Dietz'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 rate for Allison Dietz has shown fluctuations. After an initial 59% approval rate in 2017, the figures shifted, settling into a pattern that has remained relatively steady in recent years, with a 49% approval rate in the most recent partial fiscal year. The latest-period approval rate of 49% is consistent with the broader trend observed over the last several years. This pattern reflects how your judge evaluates the evidence presented in each unique case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dietz'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 Livonia MI hearing office
The Livonia MI hearing office serves claimants across the region. As of the most recent record in July 2026, this office maintains a bench of 18 judges who handle a high volume of cases. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%, which provides context for the local hearing environment. You can see the Livonia MI Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Livonia MI office. Among this group, approval rates on record since 2016 range from 44% to 74%. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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
Allison Dietz has an approval rate of 48% on record since 2016. Across the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI, approval rates range from 44% to 74%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Allison Dietz has varied over time, starting at 59% in 2017 and reaching 49% in the most recent partial fiscal year. These shifts are common as case mixes and evidence quality change. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain random. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Allison Dietz has a 48% approval rate on record since 2016, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
