Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Harvey's 28% lifetime approval rate sits below the Buffalo Hearing Office latest average of 53% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 1,609 lifetime decisions, offering a view of his historical decision-making. 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 Harvey'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
Throughout his tenure, Judge Harvey has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. With 1,609 lifetime decisions recorded during his time on the bench, the data shows a steady pattern of adjudication. While his approval rate remains distinct from the office-wide averages, this consistency allows for predictable preparation strategies. The current data reflects a stable trend in his decision-making process.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Harvey'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 Harvey? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Buffalo hearing office
The Buffalo Hearing Office serves a broad population across New York, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office handles complex cases requiring precise medical documentation and adherence to Social Security Administration regulations. The office currently reports a latest approval rate of 53%, reflecting the regional landscape of disability adjudication. You can visit the Buffalo Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Buffalo Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 28% to 54%. Because of this variance, understanding the general environment of your hearing office is a vital step in your preparation. You can find more information on the Buffalo Hearing Office page.
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.