Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. Brian J. Crawley's 80% approval rate on record since 2016 reflects a volume of 3,569 decisions, providing a clear view of his historical pattern. This figure sits within the 48% to 83% range observed among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is Long Island. 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 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 January 2016, Brian J. Crawley has issued 3,569 decisions. His approval rate showed a period of decline between 2018 and 2020, followed by a recovery in recent years. The 2025 data shows an 87% approval rate, which is consistent with his earlier performance levels from 2016 and 2017. This trend suggests that the judge's decision-making pattern has remained stable over the long term, with the latest period reflecting a return to higher approval levels.
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.
About the Long Island hearing office
Brian J. Crawley's most recent office on record is the Long Island hearing office, with decisions there through September 2025. This office serves you if you are in the region and operates as part of the broader SSA network. With 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the bench handles a diverse range of disability claims. You can see the Long Island Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Long Island
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is Long Island, and their approval rates on record since 2016 range from 48% to 83%. For your preparation, the guidance remains consistent 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
Brian J. Crawley has an 80% approval rate on record since 2016. This places him within the 48% to 83% range of the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is Long Island. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. After an 87% approval rate in 2016, it reached a low of 67% in 2020 before rising back to 87% in 2025. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and may ask you questions about your limitations. Having an attorney can help you present your evidence clearly to ensure the judge has the full picture of your disability.
The 80% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of how Brian J. Crawley will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide, and an attorney can help you organize that evidence effectively.
