Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides a clearer picture of the local hearing environment. Ronald L. Waldman currently holds an approval rate that is 9 points above the Long Island office average and 26 points above the national average. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 13,294 lifetime decisions, offering a high level of statistical confidence. Aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific 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 Waldman'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
Across 7 years on the bench, Ronald L. Waldman has maintained a steady approval pattern. Starting with an 82% approval rate in 2016, the judge reached a high of 89% in 2017 before stabilizing in the low 80s through 2021. This consistency suggests a predictable approach to evaluating medical evidence and vocational factors. The latest data reflects a continuation of this stable pattern, indicating that the judge's evidentiary standards have remained largely unchanged throughout their tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Waldman'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 Waldman? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Long Island hearing office
The Long Island Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants across New York, managing a high volume of cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 75%, reflecting the complex nature of the claims processed in this region. You can expect a rigorous review of your medical records and work history during your hearing. You may view the full ALJ roster on the Long Island Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Long Island Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 61% to 84%. Because of this variance, understanding the general landscape of your assigned office is a vital part of your preparation. You can find more information on the office's general trends on the Long Island 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.