Approval rates
The approval rates for judges at the Syracuse hearing office vary, with lifetime records ranging from 40% to 86%. Comparing the lifetime performance of John M. Lischak against this office-wide range provides context for how his decision-making aligns with local trends. These figures are derived from a docket of 1,638 lifetime decisions on record since 2016.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Lischak. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Lischak'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, the approval pattern for John M. Lischak has remained consistent. His annual approval rates have stayed steady, beginning at 86% in 2016 and remaining at 86% in 2020, with minor fluctuations in the intervening years. This stability across 1,638 lifetime decisions suggests a predictable approach to evaluating your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lischak'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 Syracuse hearing office
The Syracuse hearing office serves claimants throughout the region as a hub for Social Security Disability Insurance cases in New York. The office bench consists of 13 judges on record, and it maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 57%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Syracuse hearing office uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges on record at this office since 2016, 7 of whom are reported in the latest SSA period. Approval rates across this bench range from 40% to 86% on a lifetime basis.
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
The lifetime approval rate of 86% for John M. Lischak sits at the top end of the 40% to 86% range observed among the 13 judges on record at the Syracuse hearing office. While his rate is higher than many of his peers, every case is unique. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards required in this office.
The approval rate for John M. Lischak has held steady over the years. Since 2016, his annual approval rates have consistently remained in the mid-to-high 80% range, showing no significant upward or downward trend. If you are concerned about how your case will be viewed, an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Syracuse hearing office, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history, daily limitations, and medical treatments. Because the process can be intimidating, an attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of a future outcome. While John M. Lischak has an 86% lifetime approval rate, your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your functional limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.