Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While the office bench shows a wide range of outcomes from 28% to 89% since 2016, your results depend on the specific medical evidence in your file. With 266 decisions on record since 2016, the data provides a clear view of 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 Harrop Jr.. 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 Harrop Jr.'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 Grenville W. Harrop Jr. on record since 2016 shows a steady pattern, with 76% approval in 2016 and 81% in 2017. This trend is based on 266 total decisions on record. Because these figures represent a consistent approach over the available data window, the pattern suggests a stable decision-making history.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Harrop Jr.'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 Buffalo hearing office
Grenville W. Harrop Jr.'s most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office, with decisions there through September 2017. This office maintains a bench of 18 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 28% to 89% 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
Grenville W. Harrop Jr. has an approval rate of 77% based on 266 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 28% to 89% seen among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Grenville W. Harrop Jr. has remained steady, moving from 76% in 2016 to 81% in 2017. These figures are based on 266 total decisions on record. If you are concerned about how your case will be viewed, an attorney can help you evaluate your evidence.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but a qualified attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
A hearing typically involves testimony from you and potentially a vocational or medical expert. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your limitations. An attorney can help you build a stronger case.
