Approval rates
Judge Schiro maintains a lifetime approval rate of 62%, a figure derived from a docket of 13,498 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, this rate reached 82%, placing the judge 4 percentage points above the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical snapshot of the judge's history within the Bronx Hearing Office.
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 Schiro'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 a 10-year tenure, Judge Schiro has seen a notable evolution in decision patterns. While the lifetime average sits at 62%, the yearly trend shows a steady climb, particularly in the last three years where approval rates have consistently exceeded 80%. This shift suggests a recent period of higher allowance frequency compared to the earlier years of the judge's career.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Schiro'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 Schiro? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Bronx hearing office
The Bronx Hearing Office serves a large population in New York, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 59%, reflecting the complex nature of the cases heard in this region. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Bronx 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. Across the Bronx Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 43% to 68%. Because this variance exists, it is common for you to research your assigned judge to understand the local environment.
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.