Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader averages provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Eldred maintains a 60% lifetime approval rate, which is 4 percentage points higher than the Syracuse office average of 56% and 2 points above the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 20,010 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Eldred'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
Over 10 years on the bench, Judge Eldred has shown a consistent approach to disability claims. After some fluctuation between 2017 and 2023, the most recent data indicates a rise to 67% in 2024 and 2025. This recent uptick reflects a shift in the judge's current decision-making environment compared to the lifetime average. This pattern reflects a steady, evidence-focused approach to case adjudication.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Eldred'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.
Hearing with Judge Eldred? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Syracuse hearing office
The Syracuse Hearing Office serves claimants across central New York, managing a high volume of cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 56%, which serves as a baseline for the region. You should expect a professional environment focused on the specific medical documentation supporting your claim. You can see the Syracuse Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is selected randomly. Within the Syracuse office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges vary, ranging from 43% to 60%. Because your assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence remains the most effective way to prepare. You can find more information on the Syracuse Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.