Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. While John Loughlin has a 40% approval rate across his 3,245 decisions on record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate of 34% sits 27 points below the 61% average for the Albany hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how past cases were decided.
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 Loughlin'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 September 2016, your approval rate has fluctuated, showing a peak of 52% in 2024 before settling to 35% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. With 3,245 total decisions on record, the volume of cases provides a stable view of his decision-making history. The latest period shows a divergence from his long-term average, which may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Loughlin'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 Albany hearing office
The Albany hearing office serves claimants across New York and the surrounding region. As of the latest data, 15 judges have their most recent record at this location, which maintains a latest-period approval rate of 61%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Albany
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Albany hearing office. Approval rates for this bench range from 40% to 81% on their records since 2016.
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
John Loughlin's 40% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the lower end of the 40% to 81% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Albany. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the specific evidentiary standards often required in this office.
Yes, the approval rate for John Loughlin has varied over time, ranging from a low of 32% in 2018 to a high of 52% in 2024. These fluctuations are common and underscore why an attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency and impartiality across the hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney can help you organize your testimony and medical evidence to meet the judge's requirements.
An approval rate is a historical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you evaluate your claim's strengths and prepare for the specific questions John Loughlin may ask.
