Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 49% approval rate for Michael Friedman reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 49% to 85% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the judge's historical decision-making. 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 Friedman. 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 Friedman'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 1,306 decisions on record for Michael Friedman since 2016 show an upward trend in approval rates over time. Starting at 41% in 2016, the rate rose to 49% in 2017, 51% in 2018, and 56% in 2019. This pattern indicates that the judge's decision-making evolved during the period covered by the data.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Friedman'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 Queens hearing office
Michael Friedman's most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office, with decisions there through September 2019. This office serves the New York region and is part of a larger network of hearing offices that manage SSDI claims. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of medical evidence is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Queens
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office, with an approval rate range of 49% to 85% across their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, 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
Michael Friedman's 49% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the lower end of the 49% to 85% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. Because approval rates vary significantly, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend in approvals for Michael Friedman. The rate increased from 41% in 2016 to 56% by 2019 across 1,306 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence for the hearing.
