Approval rates
The approval rate for Stanley A. Moskal Jr.. stands at 89%, a figure derived from 2,186 lifetime decisions during his tenure. When compared to the latest reporting period, his rate is 36 percentage points higher than the Buffalo Hearing Office average and 31 points above the national average of 58%. This data provides a statistical baseline for understanding his bench history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Moskal Jr.'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 his 2 years on the bench, Stanley A. Moskal Jr.. has maintained a consistent approval pattern. His yearly trend shows high stability, with an 89% approval rate in 2016 and an 88% rate in 2017. This steady performance indicates a reliable approach to evaluating evidence across his 2,186 lifetime decisions. The consistency of these figures suggests that his decision-making process remains anchored in a stable interpretation of disability requirements.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Moskal Jr.'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 Moskal Jr.? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Buffalo hearing office
The Buffalo Hearing Office serves a broad population across New York, managing a high volume of SSDI claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 53%, which reflects the complex nature of the cases heard in this region. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Buffalo Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Buffalo Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 46% to 89%. Because of this variance, understanding the general landscape of your local office is helpful. You can find more information on the Buffalo 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.