Approval rates
Comparing a judge's record requires looking at consistent data points, specifically lifetime performance against the broader office bench. The Long Island hearing office features a diverse range of outcomes, with lifetime approval rates spanning from 48% to 83% among the 12 judges on record. With 3,540 lifetime decisions, the data for Andrew S. Weiss provides a clear view of his historical decision-making tendencies. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Weiss. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Weiss'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 approval record for Andrew S. Weiss shows a steady pattern of decision-making since 2016. While yearly fluctuations occur, the judge has maintained a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim over his 3,540 lifetime decisions. Recent years have seen the approval rate move within a stable range, reflecting the judge's established methodology. This trend suggests that the judge's approach to evidence and testimony remains consistent for your hearing preparation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Weiss'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 critical hub for SSDI adjudication in New York. The office maintains a bench of 12 judges on record who manage a high volume of disability appeals. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on your medical documentation and vocational evidence. You can see the Long Island Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges on record at this office since 2016, 7 of whom are reported in the latest SSA period. Because approval rates across this bench vary from 48% to 83%, understanding the office environment is a helpful step in your preparation. The guidance for your case remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Andrew S. Weiss holds a 68% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the 48% to 83% range seen across the 12 judges at the Long Island office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with the standards applied in this office.
The approval rate for Andrew S. Weiss has remained relatively steady over his 3,540 lifetime decisions since 2016. While there are year-to-year variations, the judge's overall pattern has not shown a dramatic shift. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the specific evidentiary needs of this judge.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your functional limitations. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence to present the strongest possible case.
A 68% lifetime approval rate for Andrew S. Weiss provides context on his historical decision-making, but it is not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your disability. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.