Approval rates
The approval rate for Steven C. Smith is based on 176 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2017. This figure is evaluated against the performance of other judges at the Grand Rapids office who have records in the most recent SSA file. These peers show a range of 43% to 66% on their since-2016 records. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
Judge Smith 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 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Smith 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 Smith'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
Steven C. Smith issued 176 decisions between 2016 and 2017. The approval rate was 87% in 2016 and 88% in 2017. This data shows the rate remained steady across the recorded period. The most recent decisions on record sit at 88% through 2017.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Smith'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 Grand Rapids hearing office
The Grand Rapids hearing office serves you if you are in the region. This office has a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the evidence provided in your file. You can see the Grand Rapids hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Grand Rapids
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 43% to 66% on their since-2016 records. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can find more information on the Grand Rapids hearing office page.
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
Steven C. Smith's 88% approval rate on record through 2017 is higher than the 43% to 66% range seen among the 6 judges at this office who are in the latest SSA file. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
The approval rate for Steven C. Smith was 87% in 2016 and 88% in 2017. This indicates the rate remained steady throughout the time the judge was on record at this office. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these past trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm. 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 testimony remains the most important factor in your claim. An attorney can help you prepare the necessary documentation to support your case.
