Approval rates
Judge Dodson maintains a lifetime approval rate of 62%, which compares favorably against the Livonia MI office latest rate of 57% and the national average of 58%. With 14,501 lifetime decisions on the bench, the data provides a stable look at his historical decision-making. These statistics reflect a probability cloud from past hearings rather than a guaranteed outcome for your case. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Dodson'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 6 years on the bench, Judge Dodson has shown a generally steady approval trend, with rates fluctuating between 57% and 65% during his primary years of service. While the data shows a sharp variance in the limited 2021 reporting period, his long-term performance remains consistent with his established career average. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates cases based on the specific evidence presented. The latest period reflects a continuation of this stable, long-term decision-making approach.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dodson'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 Dodson? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Livonia MI hearing office
The Livonia MI Hearing Office serves a significant volume of claimants across the region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 57%. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Livonia MI Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Livonia MI office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 55% to 73%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence. The guidance for your hearing remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.