Approval rates
This table compares the approval performance of I. K. Harrington against the broader bench at the New Haven office. By looking at the 3,056 decisions on record since 2016, you can see how this judge aligns with the local range of 36% to 58%. Latest-period data also provides a snapshot of how the judge compares to the office, state, and national averages.
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 Harrington'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 January 2016, the approval rate for I. K. Harrington has varied. The most recent fiscal year to date shows a 48% approval rate, which aligns with the broader patterns observed in recent years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Harrington'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 Haven hearing office
I. K. Harrington's most recent office on record is the New Haven Hearing Office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you throughout Connecticut and the surrounding region. The office maintains a bench of 8 judges, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 47%. You can see the New Haven Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New Haven
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 5 of them having decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 36% to 58% on their since-2016 records.
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
I. K. Harrington holds a 51% approval rate on record since 2016. This places them within the 36% to 58% range of all judges whose most recent office on record is the New Haven Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for I. K. Harrington has fluctuated over the years, starting at 57% in 2016 and reaching 48% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. These variations are common in SSDI dockets and often reflect changes in case complexity. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, you should focus on preparing a strong case regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you ensure your case meets the necessary legal standards.
