Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's approval rate requires looking at the data in context. Judge Greisler's 46% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 40% to 81% range observed among the bench at the Albany hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, her 48% approval rate is compared against the office's 61%, the state's 62%, and the national 58% benchmarks. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the office's recent activity.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Greisler'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
Since 2016, Judge Greisler has issued 3,263 decisions. Her approval rate has remained relatively steady, with annual rates ranging from 42% to 57%. The most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 48%, which is consistent with her long-term average. This pattern suggests a stable approach to case evaluation, where your outcome often depends on the specific medical evidence and vocational factors you present.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Greisler'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 Albany hearing office
Gretchen M. Greisler's most recent office on record is the Albany hearing office, which serves claimants across New York. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges who handle a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%, you can expect a review of your medical documentation and work history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Albany
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Albany hearing office, and 8 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 40% to 81% since 2016.
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 Greisler's 46% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 40% to 81% range of the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Albany. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
Her approval rate has remained steady over the years, with her latest-period rate of 48% aligning closely with her long-term average of 46%. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, an attorney can help you understand your options.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your evidence is ready for any ALJ.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. Because the process is complex, having an attorney to help you prepare for the judge's questions is highly recommended.
The approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you present your limitations. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case.
