Approval rates
The approval rate for Lau Michalec Olszewski is based on 2,300 decisions on record since 2016. Among the 5 judges whose most recent office on record is White Plains, approval rates range from 43% to 82%.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Olszewski. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Olszewski'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 Lau Michalec Olszewski has fluctuated over the years, starting at 41% in 2016 and reaching a high of 49% in 2022. Following a dip to 35% in 2020, the rate has remained between 46% and 48% from 2023 through 2025.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Olszewski'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.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is White Plains
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is White Plains, with approval rates ranging from 43% to 82%.
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
Lau Michalec Olszewski has an approval rate of 43% across 2,300 decisions on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 43% to 82% range observed among the 5 judges whose most recent office on record is White Plains. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Lau Michalec Olszewski has seen yearly variations, moving from 41% in 2016 to 46% in 2025. While the rate hit a low of 35% in 2020, it has remained relatively steady in the most recent years. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Since you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you navigate this process.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and often a vocational expert will discuss your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you navigate this process and ensure your testimony is clear and consistent.
