Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 62% approval rate for Patrick J. MacLean reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 44% to 74% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically evaluated claims.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge MacLean. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge MacLean'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 Patrick J. MacLean has shown variation across the 2,495 decisions on record since 2016. After maintaining an approval rate between 59% and 63% for several years, the data showed an increase to 68% in 2020 before shifting in the final recorded period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge MacLean'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 Livonia MI hearing office
Patrick J. MacLean's most recent office on record is the Livonia MI hearing office, with decisions there through September 2022. This office serves claimants in Michigan. With 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 58%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI, with approval rates ranging from 44% to 74% on their since-2016 records. Because the judge you draw matters, understanding the office-wide bench is a helpful part of your preparation.
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
Patrick J. MacLean has an approval rate of 62% on record since 2016. This sits within the 44% to 74% range of approval rates for the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Patrick J. MacLean has fluctuated across his 2,495 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate was 63% in 2016 and 68% in 2020, it shifted in the final recorded year of 2022. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Patrick J. MacLean has approved 62% of the 2,495 cases on record since 2016, but your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate the evidence in your file to build the strongest possible case.
