Approval rates
Comparing a judge's history to broader benchmarks provides context for your hearing. Judge Stephan maintains a 58% lifetime approval rate, which matches the national average of 58%. While this rate is lower than the Albany Hearing Office average of 67%, it is based on a significant volume of 12,226 lifetime decisions, offering a stable view of his decision-making history. 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 Stephan'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 his 5 years on the bench, Judge Stephan has maintained a steady decision pattern. After an initial 61% approval rate in 2016, the annual figures fluctuated slightly before settling into a consistent range near 57% in recent periods. This stability suggests a predictable approach to evaluating evidence and testimony. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, indicating that the criteria for disability remain consistent over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stephan'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 Stephan? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Albany hearing office
The Albany Hearing Office serves a broad population across New York, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 67%. You should expect a professional environment focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Albany Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Albany Hearing Office, the bench of 6 judges features lifetime approval rates ranging from 49% to 81%. Because assignment is random, you may be scheduled before any of these professionals. You can find more information on the office's general trends on the Albany 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.