Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at both lifetime and recent data to understand their decision-making environment. Stephan Bell maintains a 55% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the broader 28% to 89% range observed across the Buffalo bench. Recent data shows his latest-period approval rate is 53%, aligning with the office-wide latest-period average.
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 Bell'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, Stephan Bell has presided over 3,424 decisions. His yearly approval trend has shown variance, moving from 59% in 2016 to a low of 41% in 2022, before reaching 64% in 2024 and 2025. The most recent data from 2026 shows a rate of 53%, which reflects a return toward his long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bell'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Buffalo hearing office
The Buffalo hearing office serves claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 18 judges on record. The office currently reports a 53% approval rate for the latest period. Claimants appearing here can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment is essentially random. There are 18 judges on record at this office since 2016, 5 of whom reported in the latest period. Because approval rates vary significantly across this bench, understanding the local context is helpful.
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
Stephan Bell has a 55% lifetime approval rate, which falls within the 28% to 89% range seen among the 18 judges on record at the Buffalo office. While his rate is steady, every judge has a unique approach to evidence. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the data shows a dynamic trend. While he started with a 59% approval rate in 2016, the rate has fluctuated over the years, reaching 64% in 2024 and 2025 before settling at 53% in the most recent period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is presiding.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of a future outcome. While Stephan Bell has a 55% lifetime approval rate, your individual result depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and identify the evidence needed to support your claim.