Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. Stephen M. Szymczak's 51% approval rate since 2022 is part of a broader bench in Providence that ranges from 32% to 75% on their respective records. In the most recent reporting period, the 57% approval rate aligns with the office and state averages.
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 Szymczak'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 December 2022, Stephen M. Szymczak has issued 1,277 decisions. The yearly trend shows a rise in approvals, moving from 38% in 2023 to 57% in 2026. This trajectory reflects a shift in recent decision-making patterns compared to the start of your record window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Szymczak'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 Providence hearing office
Stephen M. Szymczak's most recent office on record is the Providence hearing office, which serves you in Rhode Island. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges who handle a diverse range of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 57%, you can expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Providence
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Providence office, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest SSA file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 32% to 75%.
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
Stephen M. Szymczak's 51% approval rate since 2022 sits within the broader range of 32% to 75% seen among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Providence. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend. The approval rate rose from 38% in 2023 to 57% in 2026. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your specific claim, an attorney can help you evaluate your options.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Since you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney present can ensure your testimony is clear and your evidence is properly presented to the judge.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a guarantee of how Stephen M. Szymczak will rule on your specific case. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you meet the SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths before your hearing.
