Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Tobin has a 53% approval rate since 2016, recent data shows a 63% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period performance sits 6 points above the Detroit office average of 57%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of decisions, providing a baseline for understanding past trends.
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 Tobin'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
Since January 2016, the approval rate for Tobin has varied. After an initial period of fluctuation, the trend has moved upward in recent years, with the latest period showing a 63% approval rate. This recent performance represents a departure from the lower rates observed in the middle of the record window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Tobin'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 Detroit hearing office
Therese Tobin's most recent office on record is the Detroit hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the Michigan region and maintains a bench of 12 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 57%, which provides context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Detroit
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 9 of them having decided cases in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 25% to 75% since 2016.
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
Judge Tobin's latest-period approval rate of 63% is 6 points higher than the Detroit office average of 57%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has shifted over time. While the rate since 2016 is 53%, the most recent data indicates a 63% approval rate. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your limitations.
Approval rates are historical statistics and do not predict the outcome of your individual hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
