Approval rates
Judge Ransom maintains an approval rate that stands 24 percentage points above the current Flint office average of 57%. This comparison is based on his total of 630 lifetime decisions. By looking at these figures, you can better understand how his bench compares to the broader national average of 58%. These aggregate rates reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your case.
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 Ransom'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
Throughout his time on the bench, Judge Ransom has demonstrated a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims. His record reflects a high rate of allowance, with 81% of cases approved over his career. Because his approval rate is higher than the office norm, understanding how your medical evidence aligns with Social Security Administration standards is vital. The consistency of this pattern suggests that the judge relies on the specific documentation provided in your file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ransom'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 Ransom? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Flint hearing office
The Flint Hearing Office serves a significant population of claimants across Michigan, managing a high volume of disability appeals. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 57%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Flint Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Flint Hearing Office, the bench is comprised of 6 judges who exhibit a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 43% to 81%. This variance highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case is a meaningful factor in your hearing process. You can view the full roster of judges on the Flint Hearing Office page.
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.