Approval rates
The 33% approval rate for Daniel F. Cusick reflects his total decisions on record since 2016. When evaluating this against the broader bench at the Seven Fields office, you can observe a range of 33% to 72% for all judges with records at this location. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Cusick. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cusick'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 1,090 decisions on record for Daniel F. Cusick since 2016 show a consistent pattern of activity. The approval rate was 33% in 2016, 35% in 2017, 33% in 2018, and 30% in 2019. This trend indicates a stable approach to case evaluation over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cusick'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 Seven Fields hearing office
The Seven Fields hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region. As of the most recent data, there are 10 judges with records at this location. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence, as office-wide outcomes vary based on the specific details of each claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Seven Fields
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seven Fields office. Among these, the approval rates on record since 2016 vary, ranging from 33% to 72%.
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
Daniel F. Cusick has an approval rate of 33% on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 33% to 72% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Seven Fields. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Daniel F. Cusick remained steady over his time on record, fluctuating between 30% and 35% across the years from 2016 to 2019. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare your case for your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical observation based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While the 33% rate for Daniel F. Cusick provides context, the strength of your medical evidence is the primary factor in any SSDI decision. An attorney can help you determine if your case is ready for a hearing.
