Approval rates
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Sharda Singh's 59% approval rate is measured against the Bronx office average of 55%, the New York state average of 63%, and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for this window. Aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Singh'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 January 2016, Sharda Singh has issued 3,527 decisions on record. The approval rate has shifted over this period, moving from 45% in 2016 to 60% in 2026. While the 12-month approval rate of 59% is higher than the 53% average recorded since 2016, it remains below the peak approval levels seen in 2024 and 2025.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Singh'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 and other claimants in New York. As of July 2026, the office bench includes 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where your medical evidence and testimony are evaluated against federal disability criteria.
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. Among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Bronx, 6 judges decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 6 judges range from 46% to 76% in their approval rates over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Singh's 59%. All five last decided cases in New York.
- 59% Approval rate, last 12 months John Antonowicz
- 59% Approval rate, last 12 months Kimberly D. Schulz
- 60% Approval rate, last 12 months Paul Georger
- 60% Approval rate, last 12 months Bruce S. Fein
- 60% Approval rate, last 12 months Raymond Prybylski
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Singh and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Sharda Singh's 59% approval rate sits within the 46% to 76% range of the 6 judges who decided cases at the Bronx office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Sharda Singh's approval rate has fluctuated since 2016, with a 53% average across 3,527 decisions on record. The rate trended upward in recent years, reaching 68% in 2025 before the current 59% rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, and you cannot choose your judge. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
