Approval rates
When evaluating your claim, it is helpful to look at how a judge's history compares to broader benchmarks. Judge Perez Jr. currently holds a 51% lifetime approval rate, which is measured against the Livonia MI office latest rate of 57% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from 3,261 lifetime decisions, providing a stable look at his judicial 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 Perez Jr.'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 his 2-year tenure, Judge Perez Jr. saw his approval rate move from 51% in 2016 to 53% in 2017. This trend shows a modest shift in outcomes during his time on the bench. While these yearly fluctuations occur, the data reflects a consistent approach to evaluating the evidence you provide in your disability claim. This pattern suggests that the judge remains focused on the specific medical and vocational documentation provided in each file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Perez Jr.'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.
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Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Livonia MI hearing office
The Livonia MI hearing office serves a significant population in Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, this office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 57%. You can expect a rigorous review process that prioritizes detailed medical records and vocational testimony. You can see the Livonia MI Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Livonia MI hearing office, the bench includes 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 51% to 73%. This variance highlights that the judge you draw can influence the procedural flow of your hearing. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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.