Approval rates
Judge Kanner has presided over 15,705 lifetime decisions, providing a data set for understanding their decision-making history. In the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded a 75% approval rate, which is 4 points higher than the Bronx office average and 5 points above the national average. These comparisons help contextualize how the judge’s performance aligns with broader regional and federal trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Kanner'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 10-year tenure, the approval rate for Judge Kanner has shown an upward trajectory. While the rate fluctuated between 57% and 62% during the early years of their career, recent periods have seen a shift toward higher approval outcomes, reaching 76% in 2025. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence, though the recent uptick may reflect changes in case mix or the quality of evidence presented. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kanner'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 Kanner? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Bronx hearing office
The Bronx Hearing Office serves a large population in New York, managing a volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an average approval rate of 59%, which serves as a baseline for the region. You should expect a professional environment focused on the thorough review of medical and vocational evidence. You can visit the Bronx Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Bronx Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 43% to 68%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is more important than the specific judge assigned to your case. The guidance for your preparation 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.