Approval rates
Evaluating a judge requires looking at both their long-term history and recent trends. Judge Xenos has served on the bench for 10 years, resulting in a data set of 19,332 lifetime decisions. While his latest approval rate of 66% provides a snapshot of current activity, it is best viewed alongside broader office and national averages to understand the context of your hearing. 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 Xenos'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 10-year tenure, Judge Xenos has seen a shift in his approval patterns. Starting with a 38% approval rate in 2016, the data shows an upward trend, reaching 64% by 2025. This trajectory reflects an evolution in how cases are evaluated over time. The latest period, with a 66% approval rate, continues this trend, which may be influenced by the types of cases assigned or the quality of evidence presented in recent years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Xenos'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 Xenos? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Detroit hearing office
The Detroit Hearing Office serves a large population across Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office distributes caseloads to maintain efficiency. When you appear here, expect a formal process focused on the medical evidence supporting your claim for SSDI. You can visit the Detroit 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. Across the Detroit bench, lifetime approval rates range from 43% to 75% among the 6 judges currently serving. Because you cannot choose your judge, the most effective strategy is to focus on the strength of your medical documentation. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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.