Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's approval rate requires looking at the broader context of their hearing office. While Gerald Resnick has an approval rate of 51% based on 951 decisions on record since 2016, other judges at the Providence office show a wide range of outcomes, from 32% to 75%. This variance highlights why your specific medical evidence and case presentation are critical. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Resnick. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Resnick'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 data for Gerald Resnick covers 951 decisions on record from January 2016 through September 2018. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 49% in 2016, followed by an increase to 54% in 2017, before declining to 39% in the final recorded period of 2018. This pattern reflects the fluctuations often seen in a judge's docket over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Resnick'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 Providence hearing office
Gerald Resnick's most recent office on record is the Providence hearing office, which serves you in Rhode Island. With 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench provides a diverse range of decision-making patterns.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Providence
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Providence hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 75% on their since-2016 records. Because case assignment is outside of your control, the focus should remain on the strength of your medical evidence.
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
Judge Resnick has an approval rate of 51% based on 951 decisions on record since 2016. Among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Providence hearing office, approval rates range from 32% to 75%. An attorney can help you understand how these figures might relate to your specific case.
Yes, the data shows a variation in approval rates over the period of January 2016 to September 2018. The rate was 49% in 2016, rose to 54% in 2017, and was 39% in 2018. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Judge Resnick's 51% approval rate on record since 2016 provides context, the success of your claim depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
