Approval rates
Judge Smith maintains a lifetime approval rate of 59% based on 22,326 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, this rate reached 70%, which is 3 percentage points above the Syracuse Hearing Office average and 1 point above the national average. These figures provide a statistical look at past performance over a 10-year tenure. 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 Smith'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 career, Judge Smith has shown a variable approval trend. After a period of lower approval rates between 2019 and 2022, the data shows a notable upward shift starting in 2024. The most recent reporting period reflects this trend, with a 70% approval rate. This pattern suggests that the judge's current approach may be influenced by changes in case mix or the quality of evidence presented in recent years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Smith'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 Smith? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Syracuse hearing office
The Syracuse Hearing Office serves you across the New York region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a high volume of disability claims, currently maintaining an office-wide approval rate of 56%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the Syracuse Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Judge Smith is essentially random. Within the Syracuse Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 43% to 60%. While these variations exist, the fundamental requirements for proving your disability remain consistent across all courtrooms. You can find more information on the Syracuse Hearing Office page.
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.