Approval rates
Comparing Jan Leventer's approval rates to broader benchmarks provides context for how decisions are distributed at the Queens Hearing Office. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, the 94% approval rate is measured against the office rate of 76%, the state rate of 63%, and the national rate of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 414 decisions during this period.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Leventer'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 January 2016, Jan Leventer has issued 4,173 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, with rates reaching 94% in the most recent 12-month window. This performance sits above the overall record of 85% since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Leventer'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 Queens hearing office
The Queens Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Jan Leventer, with activity documented through July 2026. The bench consists of 12 judges whose most recent record is here, and the office maintained a 76% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Queens
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is essentially random. Among the 6 judges who decided cases at this office in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 62% to 94% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Leventer's 94%. One of them last decided cases in New York. With too few close matches there, the rest come from other regions.
- 92% Approval rate, last 12 months Paul F. Kelly
- 93% Approval rate, last 12 months Margaret M. Sullivan
- 93% Approval rate, last 12 months D. Burgess Stalley
- 97% Approval rate, last 12 months James Cole Cartledge
- 91% Approval rate, last 12 months Mark Naggi
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Leventer and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Jan Leventer's 94% approval rate is at the top of the range for the 6 judges who decided cases at the Queens Hearing Office in SSA's latest file, which spans from 62% to 94%. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends may relate to your specific case.
Jan Leventer's approval rate has varied over time, with an 85% approval rate across 4,173 decisions since 2016. The rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is 94%. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical shifts.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case for any judge you are assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and testimony remains the most important factor in your claim. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present your strongest case.
