Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While William M. Weir has a 45% approval rate on record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 46%. This latest-period figure sits 7 percentage points below the Buffalo office average of 53%, 16 points below the state average of 62%, and 12 points below the national average of 58%. With 3,229 total decisions on record, these figures provide a look at his decision history.
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 Weir'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 2016, William M. Weir has maintained a varied approval pattern. His annual approval rates have fluctuated, reaching a high of 51% in 2019 and a low of 36% in 2021. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 46% approval rate. These trends are influenced by the specific evidence and case mix presented in each hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Weir'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 Buffalo hearing office
The Buffalo hearing office is the most recent office on record for William M. Weir as of July 2026. With 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 53%. You can see the Buffalo hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Buffalo hearing office, there are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 5 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates among this bench range from 28% to 89% on their since-2016 records.
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
William M. Weir has an approval rate of 45% on record since 2016. Among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo office, approval rates range from 28% to 89%. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of your assigned judge.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. After reaching 51% in 2019, the rate dipped to 36% in 2021 before returning to 46% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of recent trends.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why working with an attorney to prepare for any potential outcome is a common strategy.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing basic job tasks. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to present the strongest possible case.
The 45% approval rate for William M. Weir is a summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your eligibility depends on the medical evidence and vocational testimony provided. An attorney can help you understand how your specific circumstances align with SSA requirements.
