Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Brian G. Kanner compared to the bench at the Bronx hearing office. The data is based on 2,435 total decisions on record since 2016. The peer range of 43% to 62% represents the performance of the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
Judge Kanner is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Kanner isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
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
Brian G. Kanner's approval rate has fluctuated across the 2,435 decisions on record since 2016. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 60% in 2016, 62% in 2017, 57% in 2018, 62% in 2019, 61% in 2020, 66% in 2021, 66% in 2022, 75% in 2023, 64% in 2024, and 75% in 2025. These figures track activity from 2016 through September 2025.
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.
About the Bronx hearing office
The Bronx hearing office serves you in New York and the surrounding region. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where your evidence quality remains the primary factor in the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Bronx
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 43% to 62% on their since-2016 records. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 6 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Brian G. Kanner's 64% approval rate on record since 2016 sits above the range for the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, who range from 43% to 62%. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your hearing strategy.
Yes, the rate has shifted over time. After a period of lower approval rates between 2018 and 2020, the judge's rate rose to 75% in 2025. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific judge you are assigned.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and testimony is the most important factor in your case. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present your best case.
