Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. David Tobias maintains a lifetime approval rate of 69%, which sits within the 48% to 83% range seen across the Long Island bench. In the most recent reporting period, the 72% approval rate tracks closely with the office-wide latest-period rate of 71%. These figures are based on a substantial docket of 3,717 lifetime decisions.
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 Tobias'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 record for David Tobias, spanning from 2016 to 2026, shows a varied yearly trend. After a period of stability, the approval rate experienced a decline in 2021 and 2022 before trending upward in recent years. The latest reporting period shows a 72% approval rate, which reflects a continuation of this recent recovery. This pattern suggests that the decision-making has remained responsive to the evidence presented in recent years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Tobias'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 Long Island hearing office
The Long Island hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a key venue for disability adjudications in New York. The office currently features a bench of 12 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 71%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary driver of the outcome. You can see the Long Island 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 effectively random. There are 12 judges on record at the Long Island office since 2016, 7 of whom are reported in the latest SSA file. Approval rates among these peers vary significantly, ranging from 48% to 83% over their respective lifetimes.
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
David Tobias has a lifetime approval rate of 69%, placing the judge within the 48% to 83% range observed across the Long Island bench. While this rate is slightly above the office-wide latest-period average of 71%, your individual case outcomes depend heavily on the specific medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate how your case strengths align with this judge's history.
The approval rate for David Tobias has fluctuated over the 3,717 decisions on record since 2016. After a dip in 2021 and 2022, the rate has shown a positive trend in the most recent years, reaching 72% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively in light of these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across the Long Island office. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the quality of your medical documentation is the most effective way to prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare for this process and ensure your testimony is clear and consistent with your medical records.