Approval rates
The approval rate for Judge Raterink is calculated based on 19,046 lifetime decisions rendered during his 9 years on the bench. In the most recent reporting period, he maintained a 73% approval rate, which is 8 percentage points higher than the national average of 58%. These statistics provide a broad view of his decision-making history compared to the Grand Rapids Hearing Office and state benchmarks. 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 Raterink'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 9-year tenure, Judge Raterink has shown a dynamic trend in his decision-making. After a period of lower approval rates between 2020 and 2021, his approval frequency has trended upward, reaching 75% in 2025. This recent performance indicates a shift compared to his lifetime average of 66%. These fluctuations often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented in the courtroom. The latest period reflects a continuation of this recent upward pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Raterink'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 Raterink? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Grand Rapids hearing office
The Grand Rapids Hearing Office serves a large population across Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office-wide approval rate currently sits at 58%, reflecting the regional trends in case outcomes. You should expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 43% to 66%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your own medical documentation. You can find more information on the Grand Rapids 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.