Approval rates
When reviewing approval rates, it is helpful to compare a judge's performance against the broader bench at their home office. At the Albany hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the 15 judges on record range from 41% to 81%. Arthur Patane's 59% lifetime approval rate sits within this range, providing a baseline for understanding how his decisions have historically aligned with his peers.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Patane. 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 Patane'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
Since 2016, Arthur Patane has issued 2,966 decisions. His yearly approval trend shows fluctuation, starting at 60% in 2016, moving through a period of lower approval rates between 2020 and 2023, and reaching 68% in 2025. This pattern reflects how his decision-making has evolved over the course of his tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Patane'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Albany hearing office
The Albany hearing office serves claimants throughout the region, operating as a hub for SSDI hearings in New York. The office maintains a bench of 15 judges who manage a high volume of cases. You can expect a formal environment where evidence quality and medical documentation are the primary drivers of a favorable outcome. See the /disability-benefits/hearing-offices/albany-NY 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges on record at this office since 2016. Because approval rates vary significantly across this bench, ranging from 41% to 81%, understanding the office-wide context is a standard part of hearing preparation.
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
Arthur Patane has a lifetime approval rate of 59% across 2,966 decisions. This places him within the 41% to 81% range observed among the 15 judges on record at the Albany office. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might impact your specific case strategy.
Yes, Arthur Patane's approval rate has fluctuated over his record starting in 2016. While he maintained a 60% rate in 2016, the data shows a shift in recent years, reaching 68% in 2025. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for a hearing by analyzing how these trends may relate to your medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The SSA uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency and impartiality. If you are concerned about your assigned judge, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of the Albany bench.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert appear before an ALJ. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions to determine your ability to perform work-related tasks. Having an attorney can help you navigate this process and ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability under SSA regulations. An attorney can help you assess your case's strengths and weaknesses before you appear in court.