Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Neumann's lifetime approval rate of 57% is measured against the Albany Hearing Office latest rate of 67% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 17,870 lifetime decisions, offering a stable statistical foundation. 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 Neumann'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 9-year tenure, Judge Neumann has seen fluctuations in his approval patterns. While his lifetime rate stands at 57%, yearly data shows a peak of 64% in 2018 followed by a period of lower approval rates between 2020 and 2022. The most recent data from 2023 and 2024 suggests a return toward his historical average. This trend reflects a steady pattern in case evaluation over the long term.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Neumann'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 Neumann? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Albany hearing office
The Albany Hearing Office serves a broad population across New York, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where caseloads are distributed to ensure efficiency. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical and vocational evidence you present. You can visit the Albany 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Albany Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 49% to 81%. This variance highlights why focusing on your own medical evidence is essential. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.