Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at both lifetime and recent data. Judge Smisek currently holds a 60% lifetime approval rate, which sits slightly above the 57% approval rate seen across the Livonia MI office. With over 20,565 decisions, the statistical sample size provides a clear view of historical trends. 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 Smisek'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 a decade on the bench, Judge Smisek has seen approval rates fluctuate within a stable range. While the rate was 57% in 2023, recent data shows a slight uptick to 61% in 2025. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims, even as case volumes shift year to year. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, indicating that the judge's decision-making process remains anchored in long-term trends.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Smisek'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 Smisek? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Livonia MI hearing office
The Livonia MI hearing office serves a significant portion of Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an average approval rate of 57%. You can expect a formal process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Livonia MI 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Livonia MI office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 54% to 73%. Because of this variance, understanding the office environment is helpful, but the core requirements for proving your disability remain the same. You can find more information on the Livonia MI 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.