Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 6 judges at this office shows a moderate spread in allowance rates, ranging from 40% to 73%. Because outcomes vary depending on which judge is assigned to your case, your file must be strong enough to stand on its own merits regardless of the draw. This variation is common, and each judge weighs evidence differently based on their own interpretation of the law.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steven C. Smith | 87% | 1,627 | |
| 2 | Dennis Raterink | 66% | 22,474 | |
| 3 | Douglas W. Johnson | 66% | 2,075 | |
| 4 | Nicholas M. Ohanesian | 60% | 29,866 | |
| 5 | Kevin Himebaugh | 59% | 23,540 | |
| 6 | Cynthia S. Harmon | 54% | 27,945 | |
| 7 | Donna J. Grit | 52% | 16,749 | |
| 8 | William G. Reamon | 45% | 30,111 | |
| 9 | Michael S. Condon | 44% | 19,691 | |
| 10 | Robert J. Tjapkes | 43% | 24,482 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? See if you qualify for representation before your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Grand Rapids, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 7 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
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.
Going to your hearing
Hearings in Grand Rapids move quickly, so you must submit your updated medical records well before the deadline. You will likely spend time in the hearing room where an ALJ will ask about your daily activities and work history. A vocational expert often testifies to clarify whether jobs exist that match your physical or mental restrictions. Bring a list of your current medications and notes on how side effects impact your ability to function. Decisions are rarely made on the spot; you will receive a written notice by mail after your appearance.
Hearings at this office come up quickly, leaving little room for a second pass at evidence submission once your date is set. When a panel's allowance rates span over 30 points, your file must be documented so thoroughly that no judge can dismiss your claim on weak evidence. Preparing for the vocational expert's testimony and building a record that addresses the panel's specific concerns is a standard part of the process.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Grand Rapids, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.