Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While the bench at the Buffalo hearing office shows a wide range of approval rates from 28% to 89% since 2016, recent trends provide a more immediate snapshot. In the latest reporting period, Bryce Baird maintained a 62% approval rate, which sits 9 percentage points above the office average of 53%. These figures rely on a significant volume of decisions to ensure statistical confidence.
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 Baird'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 2016, the approval rate for Bryce Baird has shown an upward trend. After starting at 38% in 2016, the annual approval rate reached 62% in 2025, with the 2026 fiscal year-to-date data continuing at that same 62% level. This shift reflects a sustained pattern of increased approvals compared to the 51% average observed over the entire record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Baird'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 Buffalo hearing office
The Buffalo hearing office serves you across New York and the surrounding region. With 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 53%. You can expect a standard hearing process where evidence quality and medical documentation remain the primary factors in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office, and 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 89% on their records 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
Bryce Baird has an approval rate of 51% on record since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 28% to 89% seen among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has trended upward over time. It began at 38% in 2016 and reached 62% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of who is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. While Bryce Baird's 51% rate since 2016 provides context, the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare effectively.
