Approval rates
The approval rates for this judge are calculated based on a significant volume of cases, providing a clear view of historical decision patterns. When evaluating these figures, it is helpful to compare them against the broader range of 48% to 83% seen across the Long Island bench. This context helps you understand how individual judicial approaches vary within the same office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Crawley. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Crawley'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, the approval record for Brian J. Crawley has shown fluctuations, moving from an 87% approval rate in 2016 to 67% in 2020. Following this period, the trend has shifted back upward, reaching 87% in 2025. These shifts are common and often relate to changes in the complexity of cases or the evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Crawley'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 Long Island hearing office
The Long Island hearing office serves claimants throughout the region and maintains a bench of 12 judges on record. Claimants appearing here can expect a formal process where the quality of medical evidence remains the primary factor in any decision. The office currently operates with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 71%.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 12 judges on record at this office since 2016, 7 of whom are reported in the latest SSA period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 48% to 83%.
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
Brian J. Crawley holds an 80% lifetime approval rate, which sits at the higher end of the 48% to 83% range observed among the 12 judges on record at the Long Island office. While this rate is high, every case is unique and depends on specific medical evidence. An attorney can help you determine how to best present your case to this judge.
Yes, the approval rate for Brian J. Crawley has fluctuated since 2016. After a period of decline between 2018 and 2020, the rate has trended upward, reaching 87% in 2025. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might influence your hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Long Island office. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions and procedures you will encounter.
A judge's lifetime approval rate provides context on their historical decision-making, but it is not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.