Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 43% approval rate for Michael G. Heitz covers his decisions on record since 2016, which we compare against the 31% to 75% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is Denver. This docket size of 58 decisions provides a baseline for understanding his past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Heitz. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Heitz'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
The approval rate for Michael G. Heitz is based on 58 decisions on record since January 2016. During this period, the data shows a consistent pattern of 43% approval. Because this record is limited to the 2016 window, it reflects his activity during that specific timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Heitz'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 Denver hearing office
Michael G. Heitz's most recent office on record is the Denver hearing office, with decisions there through September 2016. This office serves you and other claimants across Colorado. With 22 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office handles a diverse range of disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Denver
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Denver hearing office, there are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 75% on their since-2016 records.
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
Michael G. Heitz has an approval rate of 43% based on his 58 decisions on record since 2016. Other judges whose most recent office on record is Denver show a wide range of approval rates, from 31% to 75%. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these local trends.
The data for Michael G. Heitz covers a specific window from January 2016 to September 2016, during which he maintained a 43% approval rate across 58 decisions. Because this is a fixed historical record, it does not show a long-term trend. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked about your work history and how your symptoms limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions a judge might ask.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how any individual case will be decided. While Michael G. Heitz has a 43% approval rate on record, the outcome of your hearing depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
