Approval rates
Judge Fallis has presided over 19,417 lifetime decisions during his 10 years on the bench. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate was 42%, which is 16 percentage points lower than the national average of 58%. This data provides a statistical baseline for his courtroom, though every case is unique.
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 Fallis'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 decade of service, Judge Fallis has maintained a steady decision pattern with annual approval rates typically fluctuating between 38% and 47%. While his most recent period shows a 42% approval rate, his career-long average remains anchored at 43%. This consistency suggests a stable approach to evaluating evidence and medical documentation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fallis'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 Fallis? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Flint hearing office
The Flint Hearing Office serves a significant population across Michigan, managing a high volume of SSDI claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 57%, this location operates in line with broader regional trends. You can expect a rigorous review of your medical records and vocational history at this office.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Flint Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your specific judge is assigned randomly. Across the office's bench of 6 judges, lifetime approval rates range from 43% to 60%. This variance highlights why it is essential to focus on the strength of your own medical evidence regardless of who presides over your hearing.
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.