Approval rates
Understanding how a judge's approval rate compares to their peers provides helpful context for your hearing. The 59% approval rate for F. P. Flanagan is based on 102 decisions on record since 2016. When evaluating this figure, consider the broader range of 40% to 86% seen among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. 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 Flanagan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Flanagan'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 F. P. Flanagan is derived from 102 decisions on record since 2016. During the 2016 data window, the judge maintained a 59% approval rate. This pattern provides a consistent baseline for understanding how cases were resolved during the period of record. Because the data reflects a specific window, it serves as a historical reference point rather than a projection of your future outcome.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Flanagan'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
F. P. Flanagan's most recent office on record is the Syracuse hearing office, with decisions there through September 2016. This office serves you and other claimants across the region. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench brings a wide range of experience to the hearing process.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse
The Social Security Administration uses 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 Syracuse, and their approval rates on record since 2016 vary from 40% to 86%. This variance highlights why preparing your case thoroughly is essential, regardless of the specific judge 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
Judge Flanagan has a 59% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 40% to 86% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your evidence for this specific bench.
The data for Judge Flanagan covers the period from January 2016 to September 2016, during which the approval rate was 59% across 102 decisions on record. Because this is a fixed historical window, it represents a stable pattern of past decisions. An attorney can help you evaluate how your case evidence aligns with these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, which ensures that cases are distributed randomly. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will have the opportunity to explain how your condition impacts your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in your disability claim. An attorney can help you build a compelling case by ensuring your medical records are complete and relevant.
