Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to broader benchmarks provides context for your hearing. Judge Levine's lifetime performance is measured against the latest office, state, and national data to highlight how his decision-making aligns with broader Social Security Administration standards. With 11,613 decisions on record, the data offers a stable view of his tenure. 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 Levine'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 6 years on the bench, Judge Levine has demonstrated a dynamic approach to disability adjudication. His yearly approval rates have fluctuated, showing a shift from 58% in 2019 to 83% in 2021. This trend suggests that your recent case outcomes may be influenced by the specific medical documentation you provide. The data reflects a judge who responds to the quality of evidence presented in each case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Levine'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 Levine? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Bronx hearing office
The Bronx Hearing Office serves a large population in New York, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. You will likely face a rigorous review process, with the office-wide latest approval rate currently at 59%. Understanding the local administrative environment is a key part of your hearing strategy. 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 vary significantly, ranging from 45% to 68%. Because you cannot choose your judge, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony. The guidance for your case 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.