Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Arthur Patane compared to the bench at the Albany hearing office. These figures are based on 2,966 decisions on record since 2016. The range of 40% to 81% represents the performance of the 8 judges who decided cases at this office in SSA's latest file.
Judge Patane is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Patane isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
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
Arthur Patane's approval rate has shifted over the 2,966 decisions recorded since 2016. The rate was 60% in 2016, 67% in 2017, 62% in 2018, 60% in 2019, 53% in 2020, 52% in 2021, 53% in 2022, 51% in 2023, 58% in 2024, and 68% in 2025.
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.
About the Albany hearing office
The Albany hearing office is the most recent office on record for Arthur Patane as of September 2025. This office has a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Albany
SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. The 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 40% to 81% on their since-2016 records. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 8 of them having decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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's 59% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 40% to 81% range of the 8 judges who decided cases at the Albany office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how this compares to the specific bench assigned to your case.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the 2,966 decisions on record since 2016, ranging from a low of 51% in 2023 to a high of 68% in 2025. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your evidence.
