Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. We evaluate the 72% approval rate on record since 2016 against the broader bench at the Mobile Hearing Office, where peers range from 28% to 81% over the same period. This comparison provides a clearer picture of how individual judicial patterns align with local office trends.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Michel. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Michel'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 Alan E. Michel has shown an upward trend since 2016. Starting at 66% in 2016, the rate reached 82% by 2020 across 178 decisions. This pattern reflects a steady increase in approvals over the 1,374 total decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Michel'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 Mobile hearing office
The Mobile Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Alabama and the surrounding region. With a bench of 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 75%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile
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 the Mobile Hearing Office, with approval rates ranging from 28% to 81% 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
Alan E. Michel has an approval rate of 72% on his record since 2016. This sits within the range of 28% to 81% observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend in approvals over time. The rate moved from 66% in 2016 to 82% by 2020. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and present your evidence effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While it provides context on a judge's history, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
