Approval rates
The approval rate for John J. Barry is based on 1,244 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2021. This data provides a statistical look at past outcomes within the Social Security Administration hearing process. These figures reflect past decisions rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Barry 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 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Barry 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 Barry'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
John J. Barry's approval rate shifted over the period from 2016 through 2021. The rate began at 85% in 2016 and reached 95% in 2017 before trending to 71% by 2021. This record includes 1,244 total decisions. The data shows the rate moved from a higher initial level to a lower level over the final years of the record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Barry'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.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is White Plains
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is essentially random. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is the White Plains hearing office. For your preparation, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
John J. Barry has an 82% approval rate on record since 2016. Because the office bench consists of judges who are not in the latest SSA file, no current comparative range is available. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the rate shifted over the period from 2016 to 2021. It started at 85% in 2016 and concluded at 71% in 2021. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges randomly. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
The 82% approval rate reflects John J. Barry's past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your file is complete and ready for review.
