Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. While Bruce S. Fein maintains a 55% approval rate across 3,815 decisions since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 58%. This latest figure sits 1 percentage point above the Syracuse office average of 57%. These metrics provide a statistical baseline for understanding the docket.
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 Fein'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, your approval rate for Bruce S. Fein has shown notable variance. After a period of decline between 2016 and 2022, the data indicates a significant upward trend in 2024 and 2025 before settling at 58% in the most recent partial period. With 3,815 total decisions on record, this pattern reflects shifts in case outcomes over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fein'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 Syracuse hearing office
Bruce S. Fein's most recent office on record is the Syracuse Hearing Office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 13 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 57%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 7 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates among this bench range from 40% to 86% based on their records since 2016.
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
Bruce S. Fein's latest-period approval rate of 58% is 1 percentage point above the Syracuse office average of 57%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a trend of fluctuation. After reaching a low of 43% in 2022, the approval rate rose to 66% in both 2024 and 2025. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome. While Bruce S. Fein has a 55% approval rate on record since 2016, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most critical factor. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case.
