Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for your upcoming hearing, though it is important to look at figures from the same reporting period. While William G. Reamon maintains a 45% lifetime approval rate, his latest-period approval rate of 46% sits 14 points below the Grand Rapids office average of 60%. These figures are derived from a docket of 4,566 lifetime decisions. 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 Reamon'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
The record for William G. Reamon spans 4,566 decisions since 2016. His yearly approval trend has remained steady, fluctuating within a moderate range over the last decade. While the latest-period approval rate of 46% shows a slight divergence from his lifetime average, the overall pattern suggests a consistent approach to case evaluation. This steady trend provides a stable baseline for understanding how he has historically handled disability claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reamon'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Grand Rapids hearing office
The Grand Rapids hearing office serves you throughout Michigan, operating as a key hub for the region. With 10 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 60%. You can expect a formal legal proceeding where evidence quality is the primary factor in a favorable outcome. See the Grand Rapids Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 10 judges on record at the Grand Rapids office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the latest period. The lifetime approval rates across this bench range from 43% to 88%. 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
William G. Reamon has a lifetime approval rate of 45%, which sits within the 43% to 88% range observed across the 10 judges on record at the Grand Rapids office. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with the standards of this hearing office.
The approval rate for William G. Reamon has remained steady since 2016, with yearly fluctuations that reflect the nature of his 4,566 lifetime decisions. While his latest-period rate is 46%, the long-term trend shows a consistent approach to the evidence presented. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards William G. Reamon expects.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Grand Rapids office. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal administrative proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert appear before the judge. The judge will ask questions about your work history, medical conditions, and daily limitations to determine if you meet the criteria for disability. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your medical records.