Approval rates
Judge Marcus currently holds a 73% approval rate in the latest reporting period, which is 12 percentage points higher than the national average of 58%. This performance is also 3 points above the Albany office average and 5 points above the state average. With a career spanning 10,222 lifetime decisions, this data provides a stable look at her historical decision-making. 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 Marcus'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 10 years on the bench, Judge Marcus has shown a generally consistent approach to disability claims. While there was a notable fluctuation in 2021, her approval rates have trended upward in recent years, reaching 78% in 2024 before settling at 73% in 2025. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates evidence within the context of evolving SSA guidelines. The recent data reflects a continuation of a steady, evidence-focused decision-making pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Marcus'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 Marcus? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Albany hearing office
The Albany Hearing Office serves a diverse population across New York, managing a high volume of disability claims with a team of 6 administrative law judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 67%, reflecting the complex nature of the cases heard in this region. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical documentation and vocational history. You can see the Albany Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Marcus is essentially random. Across the Albany office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 ALJs range from 49% to 81%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, understanding the broader office environment is useful. You can find more information on the Albany 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.