Approval rates
The approval rate for Thomas Grabeel is based on 1,031 decisions made between 2016 and 2018. This record is compared against the performance of other judges at the same office who have active records in the most recent SSA data. These figures provide a statistical overview of past activity at the New York Hearing Office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Grabeel is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Grabeel isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Grabeel'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
Thomas Grabeel's approval rate on record since 2016 shows an upward trend across the available data. In 2016, the approval rate was 76% over 498 decisions, rising to 78% in 2017, and reaching 83% in 2018. This pattern reflects activity across the 1,031 total decisions on record through September 2018.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Grabeel'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 New York hearing office
The New York Hearing Office serves you across the region. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where your evidence and testimony are reviewed. See the New York Hearing Office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New York
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the New York Hearing Office, there are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 5 of them having decided cases in SSA's latest file. These 5 judges range from 41% to 81% on 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
Thomas Grabeel's 79% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 41% to 81% range established by the 5 judges currently active in the latest SSA file at the New York Hearing Office. An attorney can help you understand how these office-wide trends might relate to your specific case.
The approval rate for Thomas Grabeel showed an increase from 76% in 2016 to 83% in 2018. This data reflects activity through September 2018. A legal professional can help you evaluate how to present your evidence regardless of past approval trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing before any judge assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case will be decided based on the unique medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your specific circumstances.
