Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader averages helps you set expectations for the hearing process. Judge Koennecke’s lifetime approval rate of 41% is evaluated against the Syracuse office's latest rate of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 15,319 lifetime decisions, providing a stable look at historical trends. 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 Koennecke'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 her 8 years on the bench, Judge Koennecke has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. While her approval rate saw peaks in 2017 and 2018 at 48% and 47% respectively, recent years have shown a downward trend, with the 2023 approval rate reaching 27%. This shift reflects a more rigorous evaluation of evidence in recent periods. Understanding this trajectory is useful, as the latest period reflects a continuation of this steady, more conservative pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Koennecke'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 Koennecke? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Syracuse hearing office
The Syracuse Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across central New York, managing a high volume of disability cases with a team of 6 ALJs. The office currently reports an approval rate of 56%, which provides a baseline for the region. You can expect a professional environment focused on the strict application of Social Security Administration regulations. You can visit the Syracuse Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. The Syracuse office features a bench with lifetime approval rates ranging from 41% to 60%. Because case assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the quality of your medical documentation remains the most effective way to prepare. You can find more information on the office's general operations on the Syracuse 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.