Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to look at how a judge's history compares to their peers. The 49% approval rate for Daniel J. Driscoll sits within the range of 37% to 75% observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Boston hearing office. These figures are based on 2,051 decisions on record since 2016. 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 Driscoll. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Driscoll'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 Daniel J. Driscoll has shown variation since his record began in 2016. After an initial approval rate of 58% in 2016, the data shows fluctuations in subsequent years, including 49% in 2019 and 53% in 2020. The most recent data points from 2022 and 2024 reflect a very low volume of decisions, which does not represent a full trend. These patterns illustrate how case outcomes can shift over time based on the evidence you present.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Driscoll'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 Boston hearing office
The Boston hearing office serves you and other claimants across Massachusetts and the surrounding region. It is staffed by 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Boston Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Boston
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Boston hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 37% to 75%. Because the specific judge you draw matters, understanding the general environment of the office is useful. For your preparation, the guidance is the same 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
Daniel J. Driscoll has an approval rate of 49% on record since 2016, which falls within the 37% to 75% range of the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Boston hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Daniel J. Driscoll has fluctuated over the years, starting at 58% in 2016 and moving through various levels before reaching his 49% average across 2,051 decisions. A legal professional can help you evaluate how these historical patterns might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency, so you will be assigned to whichever judge is next in the rotation.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. Having an attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
