Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. The judge's 52% approval rate on record since 2016 is evaluated against the broader bench at the Buffalo office, where since-2016 records for all judges range from 28% to 89%. This docket of 62 decisions provides a view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Mazzarella. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mazzarella'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
The approval rate for Bruce R. Mazzarella on record since 2016 stands at 52% across 62 total decisions. This data window, spanning from January 2016 to September 2016, shows a consistent pattern during that period. Because the record is limited to this specific timeframe, the trend reflects activity during that window. This pattern provides a baseline for understanding how the judge has historically approached cases.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mazzarella'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 Buffalo hearing office
The Buffalo hearing office serves you and other claimants across New York and the surrounding region. This office has a bench of 18 judges whose most recent record is at this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 89% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Judge Mazzarella has an approval rate of 52% on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 28% to 89% observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The data for Judge Mazzarella covers the period from January 2016 to September 2016, during which the approval rate was 52% across 62 decisions. Because this record is limited to that specific window, it represents a snapshot of that time. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Judge Mazzarella has a 52% approval rate on record since 2016, your individual result depends on the strength of your medical evidence and vocational testimony. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
