Approval rates
Judge Grossman has issued 16,481 lifetime decisions during his 10 years on the bench. In the most recent reporting period, your approval rate was 46%, which compares to the New York Hearing Office average of 60% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding his courtroom history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Grossman'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
Over a decade of service, Judge Grossman has seen his approval rates fluctuate. After starting his tenure with rates in the mid-30% range, he experienced a period of growth peaking at 57% in 2024 before settling at 46% in the most recent period. This trend indicates a judge whose decision-making has evolved over time. The recent data reflects a continuation of this varied pattern rather than a rigid, unchanging stance.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Grossman'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.
Hearing with Judge Grossman? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the New York hearing office
The New York Hearing Office serves a large population in the New York region, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an active docket and a latest-period approval rate of 60%. You should expect a professional, evidence-focused environment where thorough documentation is essential. You can see the New York (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. Within the New York Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 37% to 82%. This variance highlights why understanding the general judicial environment is helpful for your preparation. The guidance for your case remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.