Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires comparing their performance against the broader bench. The 53% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a baseline, while latest-period data allows for a direct comparison against the Livonia MI office, state, and national averages. With 3,447 decisions on record, the data offers a stable view of past activity. 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 Mattia'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 Christopher J. Mattia has fluctuated since 2016. After reaching a low point in 2019, the approval rate saw increases in 2023 and 2025. The latest period shows a 57% approval rate, which remains consistent with recent activity. This pattern suggests that the approach has evolved over the last decade, with the recent period reflecting a continuation of this steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mattia'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
Christopher J. Mattia's most recent office on record is the Livonia MI hearing office, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across Michigan and maintains a bench of 18 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%, providing context for the local hearing environment.
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 this one, and 8 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. These judges show an approval-rate range of 44% to 74% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Judge Mattia has an approval rate of 53% on record since 2016, which sits within the 44% to 74% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI. Comparing individual judges is less important than ensuring your medical evidence is complete. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate has shifted over time. After a period of lower approval rates around 2019, the rate increased in recent years, reaching 57% in the latest reporting period. These trends reflect past decisions, and an attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with current standards.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical documentation is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. While it provides context for the judge's history, the specific facts and medical evidence in your file are the primary drivers of a decision. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
