Approval rates
Judge English maintains a lifetime approval rate of 54%, which provides a baseline for understanding their decision history. When compared to the most recent reporting period, the judge's rate is 2 points higher than the Lansing Hearing Office average, though it remains 4 points below the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 828 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 English'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 a tenure of 1 year on the bench, Judge English has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. With 828 lifetime decisions on record, the judge's decision-making process has remained stable throughout their time in the Lansing Hearing Office. This consistency suggests a predictable approach to evaluating evidence and medical documentation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge English'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 English? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Lansing hearing office
The Lansing Hearing Office serves a broad population across Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 52% in the latest reporting period. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical evidence supporting your claim. You can visit the Lansing Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Lansing Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Across the office's bench of 6 judges, lifetime approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 66%. This variance highlights why understanding the specific requirements of the hearing process is vital for your claim. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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.