Approval rates
When reviewing the performance of an ALJ, it is helpful to look at how their approval rate compares to broader benchmarks. Judge Chrzanowski maintains a lifetime approval rate of 88%, which stands in contrast to the 48% average at the Ft Lauderdale Hearing Office and the 58% national average. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 780 lifetime decisions, providing a clear statistical profile of her tenure.
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 Chrzanowski'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
Over her 2 years on the bench, Judge Chrzanowski has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. Her career trend shows a robust approval rate throughout her tenure, with 780 total decisions informing this pattern. This consistency helps you understand the historical context of the Social Security Act disability process.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Chrzanowski'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.
Hearing with Judge Chrzanowski? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Ft Lauderdale hearing office
The Ft Lauderdale Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants across Florida, managing a high volume of SSDI and SSI cases. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 48%, reflecting the complex nature of the claims processed in this region. You can visit the Ft Lauderdale Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Ft Lauderdale Hearing Office, the bench is comprised of 6 judges whose lifetime approval rates range from 36% to 88%. Because of this variance, the specific judge assigned to your case can be a significant factor in your hearing process.
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.