Approval rates
The approval rates for Paul F. Kelly reflect a significant volume of cases, providing a stable statistical baseline for review. When comparing the latest reporting period, Kelly's 92% approval rate stands notably above the Albany office average of 61%, the New York state average of 62%, and the national average of 58%. These figures are based on 346 recent decisions. 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 Kelly'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 2016, Paul F. Kelly has presided over 3,539 lifetime decisions. The yearly trend shows a period of decline between 2020 and 2022, followed by a consistent upward trajectory in approval rates from 2023 through 2026. The latest period's 92% approval rate represents a continuation of this recent growth. This pattern suggests that recent case outcomes have trended toward higher allowance rates compared to the judge's long-term historical average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kelly'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Albany hearing office
The Albany hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 15 judges on record. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 61%, which provides context for the local administrative environment. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. See the Albany hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. There are 15 judges on record at the Albany office since 2016, 8 of whom reported in the SSA's latest period. Across this bench, lifetime approval rates range from 41% to 81%. You can find more information on the office's overall performance on the Albany hearing office page.
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
Paul F. Kelly's 81% lifetime approval rate sits at the top of the range for the 15 judges on record at the Albany office, where lifetime rates vary from 41% to 81%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence to align with the standards of this specific hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a trend of fluctuation followed by recent growth. After an approval rate of 67% in 2021, the rate has climbed steadily to 92% in 2026. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the current evidentiary expectations of this judge.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, and the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Regardless of the judge, a qualified attorney can help you prepare your case for the hearing.
The 81% lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your testimony. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.