Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. The 52% approval rate for Marie Greener reflects her total decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 40% to 86% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. With 487 decisions on record, this data provides a look at past activity. 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 Greener. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Greener'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 Marie Greener across her 487 decisions on record since 2016 shows a shift in activity. In 2016, your approval rate was 53% over 486 decisions, while the 2017 data shows a rate of 45% over 103 decisions. This trend indicates a change in the approval rate during the final period of her record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Greener'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
The Syracuse hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the specific medical and vocational evidence of your claim. The office-wide latest-period approval rate provides broader context for the local hearing environment.
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 the Syracuse hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 40% to 86% on their since-2016 records. Because approval rates vary across the bench, understanding the general environment of the office is helpful.
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
Marie Greener has an approval rate of 52% on her 487 decisions 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 prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in the approval rate over time. Marie Greener had a 53% approval rate in 2016, which moved to 45% in 2017. An attorney can help you understand how these past patterns might relate to the evidence in your current case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence for the hearing.
The 52% approval rate for Marie Greener is a summary of past decisions and not a prediction of your specific outcome. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you review your case file to ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
