Approval rates
Judge Weiss has presided over 22,546 lifetime decisions during his 10-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate of 67% sits 10 percentage points higher than the national average of 58%, though it is 7 points below the current Long Island office average of 75%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in this courtroom.
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 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
Over the last decade, your approval rate for Judge Weiss has shown a steady pattern, fluctuating between a low of 62% in 2019 and a high of 74% in 2024. This 10-year history across 22,546 decisions demonstrates a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim. While the most recent data shows a slight adjustment to 67%, the overall trend remains consistent with his long-term performance.
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.
Hearing with Judge Weiss? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Long Island hearing office
The Long Island Hearing Office serves a high volume of claimants across the New York region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a significant caseload that requires efficient and thorough review of your disability application. The office currently maintains a 75% approval rate, reflecting the local standards for evidence and medical documentation. You can see the Long Island (New York) Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Weiss is essentially random. The Long Island office features a diverse bench with lifetime approval rates ranging from 57% to 81%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the hearing room, understanding the office-wide environment is helpful for your preparation.
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.