Approval rates
Comparing a judge's history to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. While the national average approval rate currently sits at 58%, Judge Mattia has maintained a lifetime approval rate of 54% over 18,996 decisions. This data reflects a decade of service across four different hearing offices. 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
Over a 10-year tenure, Judge Mattia's decision patterns have evolved. After a period of lower approval rates between 2018 and 2020, the data shows a notable upward trend in recent years, with approval rates reaching 63% in 2025. This shift suggests that the judge's recent approach may be more favorable than the lifetime average indicates. These fluctuations often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of medical evidence presented in the courtroom.
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.
Hearing with Judge Mattia? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Livonia MI hearing office
The Livonia MI hearing office serves a significant population across Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 57%, aligning with state averages. You can expect a professional environment where adherence to 20 CFR Part 404 regulations regarding medical evidence is strictly required. You can visit the Livonia MI Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Livonia MI hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 54% to 73%. Because the judge you draw is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical documentation remains the most effective way to prepare. The guidance for your case remains consistent 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.