Approval rates
Understanding how a judge compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. At the New York office, lifetime approval rates among the 15 judges on record vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 81%. This variance highlights why preparation is essential, as the specific judge assigned to your case can influence the process. 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 Grabeel. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
The record for Thomas Grabeel covers 1,031 decisions issued between 2016 and 2018. During this period, the approval rate showed a steady upward trend, moving from 76% in 2016 to 83% by 2018. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence and medical documentation over the course of his recorded docket. These trends provide insight into the judge's historical decision-making process.
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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the New York hearing office
The New York hearing office serves you throughout the region, managing a diverse caseload of SSDI applications. With 15 judges on record, this office operates as a critical hub for disability determinations in the area. You can expect a formal legal proceeding where evidence quality is the primary factor in the outcome. You can see the New York Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. There are 15 judges on record at this office since 2016, 5 of whom reported in the latest period. Because approval rates across this bench range from 36% to 81%, your experience may vary depending on who is assigned to your hearing. 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 has a lifetime approval rate of 79% across 1,031 decisions. This places him toward the higher end of the approval-rate range for the 15 judges on record at the New York office, which spans from 36% to 81%. An attorney can help you prepare a case strategy tailored to the specific standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a steady trend in his approval rate between 2016 and 2018. He began with a 76% approval rate in 2016 and reached 83% by 2018. If you are concerned about how these trends might affect your hearing, an attorney can help you review your medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary records.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding held before an ALJ. You will likely be asked questions about your work history, daily limitations, and medical treatments. Having an attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your testimony clearly explains your disability.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. While Thomas Grabeel has a 79% lifetime approval rate, the outcome of your hearing depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your inability to work. An attorney can help you gather the necessary records to build a strong case.