Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 52% approval rate for Louis Bonsangue reflects his total decisions on record since 2016, which provides a broad view of his history compared to the 27% to 74% range seen among his peers at the Hartford office. In the most recent reporting period, his 55% approval rate sits 4 points below the office average of 59%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than individual case outcomes.
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 Bonsangue'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
The record for Louis Bonsangue includes 4,001 decisions issued between January 2016 and July 2026. His approval rate has fluctuated over this period. After reaching 59% in 2024, the rate shifted to 57% in 2025 and stands at 55% for the partial 2026 fiscal year. This latest figure remains consistent with his long-term average, indicating a stable pattern in his decision-making.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bonsangue'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 Hartford hearing office
The Hartford hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout Connecticut and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 59%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the specific medical evidence of your disability claim. You can visit the Hartford hearing office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Hartford
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Hartford hearing office, there are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 6 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, from 27% to 74% on their records since 2016. Preparation remains the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Louis Bonsangue has an approval rate of 52% on record since 2016. This sits within the 27% to 74% range observed among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Hartford hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. It began at 41% in 2016 and reached a high of 59% in 2024, before settling at 55% for the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and present your evidence effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence to strengthen your position.
