Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to their peers provides context for your hearing. The approval rate for Sean McKee is based on 196 decisions on record since 2016. When evaluating this figure, compare it against the range of 30% to 63% observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the MT Pleasant MI hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge McKee. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge McKee'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 Sean McKee is based on 196 decisions on record since 2016. During 2017, the approval rate was 30%. This data provides a historical look at how cases were decided during that specific window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McKee'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 Mt Pleasant MI hearing office
Sean McKee's most recent office on record is the MT Pleasant MI hearing office, with decisions there through September 2017. This office serves the surrounding region, and its bench consists of 8 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can view the MT Pleasant MI hearing office page for the full roster of judges.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mt Pleasant MI
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the MT Pleasant MI hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 30% to 63% 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
Sean McKee has an approval rate of 30% on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 30% to 63% range observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the MT Pleasant MI hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The data for Sean McKee covers the period from October 2016 through September 2017, during which the approval rate was 30%. Because the record is limited to this window, the rate remained steady. An attorney can help you understand how your evidence fits into this pattern.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The 30% approval rate for Sean McKee is a statistical summary of past decisions and not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical documentation is the most important factor in a favorable outcome. An attorney can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
