Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. While Sedaca has an 81% lifetime approval rate, recent data shows an 82% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period performance sits 24 points above the New York office average of 58%. These figures rely on a significant volume of cases to provide statistical confidence. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Sedaca'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 record for Sedaca shows a steady pattern across the 3,013 decisions on record since 2016. Yearly trends indicate consistent outcomes, with the most recent period showing an 82% approval rate, which aligns closely with the long-term average. This stability suggests a predictable approach to evaluating your evidence and testimony.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sedaca'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the New York hearing office
The New York hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region. With 15 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 58%. You can expect a structured environment where your evidence quality and medical documentation remain the primary drivers of a favorable decision. You can see the New York hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges on record at this office since 2016, 5 of whom reported in SSA's latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 81% on lifetime records. You can find more information on the New York hearing office page.
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 Sedaca has an 81% lifetime approval rate, which is at the high end of the 36% to 81% range seen among the 15 judges on record at the New York office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The approval rate for Judge Sedaca has remained steady over the record window starting in 2016. While yearly fluctuations occur, the latest-period approval rate of 82% is consistent with the judge's 81% lifetime average. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of a hearing in the New York office.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to present the strongest case possible.