Approval rates
The 68% approval rate for Jay L. Cohen reflects his entire record since 2016, which can be evaluated against the 49% to 85% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. With 1,256 decisions on record, the data provides a clear view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Cohen. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cohen'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 approval rate for Jay L. Cohen shows a downward trend over the period from 2016 to 2020. While the rate was 70% in 2016, it shifted to 53% by 2020. This pattern is based on 1,256 decisions on record since 2016. The decline in the approval rate may reflect changes in the case mix or the evidence presented during those specific years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cohen'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 Queens hearing office
Jay L. Cohen's most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office, which serves the New York region. This office features a bench of 11 judges whose most recent records are at this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of medical evidence is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Queens
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office, and their approval rates since 2016 range from 49% to 85%. Because approval rates vary across this bench, understanding the landscape of your local office 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
Jay L. Cohen has an approval rate of 68% since 2016. This falls within the 49% to 85% range of approval rates for the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a shift in approval rates over the period from 2016 to 2020. While the rate was 70% in 2016, it moved to 53% by 2020. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Jay L. Cohen has a 68% approval rate on record since 2016, your outcome depends on the unique medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
