Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 62% approval rate for Barry E. Ryan reflects his performance across 470 decisions since 2016. This sits within the 40% to 86% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. These aggregate figures provide a baseline for understanding historical trends, though they do not serve as a prediction for your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Ryan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Ryan'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 approval rate for Barry E. Ryan shows a shift across the 470 decisions on record since January 2016. In 2016, the approval rate stood at 65% over 509 decisions, followed by a rate of 53% over 147 decisions in 2017. This pattern indicates a change in the approval rate during the final period of his recorded activity at this office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ryan'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 Syracuse hearing office
The Syracuse hearing office serves you and other claimants across New York and the surrounding region. This office has a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. You can expect a formal legal proceeding where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in the outcome. You can see the Syracuse Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 40% to 86% on their respective records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Barry E. Ryan has an approval rate of 62% based on 470 decisions on record since 2016. This falls within the 40% to 86% range of the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in his approval rate over time. He recorded a 65% approval rate in 2016 and a 53% rate in 2017. Understanding these historical patterns is part of how an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
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 ask questions about your work history and medical limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case outcome depends on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you meet the SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and prepare for your hearing.
