Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for John A. Ransom based on his record since 2016. These figures represent the percentage of cases where the judge ruled in favor of the claimant. Statistical confidence is drawn from the total of 70 decisions on record. These rates describe past decisions rather than future outcomes.
Judge Ransom is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Ransom isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
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
John A. Ransom's record covers 70 decisions from 2016 through September 2016. During this period, the approval rate was 81%. This data reflects the judge's activity during that specific window of time.
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.
About the Flint hearing office
The Flint hearing office serves you in Michigan and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where your evidence is reviewed against federal disability guidelines.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Flint
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Flint, the 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 42% to 59% 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
John A. Ransom's 81% approval rate on record through 2016 sits above the range of 42% to 59% seen among the 4 judges who decided cases at the Flint office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case strategy.
The data for John A. Ransom covers the period from 2016 through September 2016, during which he maintained an 81% approval rate. Because his record concludes in 2016, there is no recent data to indicate a change in pattern. An attorney can help you evaluate the current landscape of your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in any disability decision. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively to the judge.
