Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Himebaugh’s lifetime approval rate of 59% is evaluated against the latest office-wide rate of 58% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 20,318 lifetime decisions, offering a stable look at historical trends. 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 Himebaugh'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 9 years on the bench, Judge Himebaugh has seen his approval rate fluctuate, showing a notable recent trend toward higher approval percentages. After a period of lower rates between 2019 and 2021, the data indicates a steady rise, with the latest reporting period reaching 66%. This shift suggests a more favorable environment for you compared to the judge's earlier career averages. The recent uptick may reflect changes in case mix or evolving standards for evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Himebaugh'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 Himebaugh? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Grand Rapids hearing office
The Grand Rapids 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 office-wide approval rate that reflects the regional nature of the caseload. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and work history. You can see the Grand Rapids Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Grand Rapids Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 43% to 66%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical documentation and vocational testimony. 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.