Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Jeffrey Raeber maintains a 56% lifetime approval rate, his latest-period performance shows a 68% approval rate, which sits 3 points above the MT Pleasant MI office average of 65%. These figures are derived from 2,795 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Raeber'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
Since 2016, your approval trend for Jeffrey Raeber has shown notable shifts. After a period of relative stability in the mid-2010s, the rate saw a dip in 2021 before trending upward in recent years. The latest reporting period reflects a continuation of this recent pattern, with an approval rate of 68% compared to the 56% lifetime average. This recent uptick may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented at the MT Pleasant MI office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Raeber'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
The MT Pleasant MI hearing office serves you across the region. With a bench of 8 judges on record, the office maintains a consistent approach to processing disability claims. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. See the MT Pleasant MI Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the latest period. Across the office, lifetime approval rates range from 30% to 63%. 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
Jeffrey Raeber's latest-period approval rate of 68% is 3 points higher than the office-wide latest-period average of 65%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary requirements often prioritized at this office.
Yes, the data shows a trend of fluctuation. While his lifetime approval rate is 56% across 2,795 decisions, his latest-period rate has risen to 68%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and daily limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.