Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. While the office bench shows a wide range of outcomes from 43% to 84% on record, recent data provides a more focused view of current trends. In the latest reporting period, Kimberly D. Schulz maintained a 60% approval rate, which is 5 percentage points higher than the Bronx office average of 55%. These figures reflect past performance and do not indicate how your specific case will be decided.
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 Schulz'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 November 2023, Kimberly D. Schulz has issued 718 decisions. The yearly trend shows a consistent volume of cases, with approval rates moving from 55% in 2024 to 54% in 2025, followed by a rise to 60% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent shift reflects a change in the approval pattern compared to the earlier record, which may be influenced by the specific evidence presented in your recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Schulz'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 Bronx hearing office
The Bronx hearing office serves you throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 16 judges on record. In the latest reporting period, the office-wide approval rate was 55%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence of your claim. You can see the Bronx Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Bronx
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Bronx, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file ending July 2026. Because approval rates across this bench vary significantly from 43% to 84%, understanding the local context is helpful. 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
Kimberly D. Schulz has an approval rate of 57% on record since 2023. This sits within the broader range of 43% to 84% seen among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Bronx. An attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows some variance in the approval rate over time. After recording 55% in 2024 and 54% in 2025, the rate rose to 60% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial 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. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
The 57% approval rate on record for Kimberly D. Schulz reflects past decisions and is not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible.
