Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall rate since 2017 is 61%, her latest-period approval rate is 70%, which sits 4 points above the New York Varick office average of 66%. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,902 decisions, providing a stable data set for review. These metrics reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your upcoming 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 Richards'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 January 2017, the approval rate for Latanya White Richards has shown an upward trend. After an initial period of fluctuation, the rate has climbed from 50% in 2018 to 70% in 2026. This latest-period performance represents a shift compared to the historical average on record. The recent data suggests a consistent pattern of approvals, though changes in case mix or evidence quality often influence these yearly shifts.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Richards'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 New York Varick hearing office
The most recent office on record for Latanya White Richards is New York Varick, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves the New York region and maintains a bench of 10 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period is 66%, reflecting the local environment for disability claims. You can review the New York Varick Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New York Varick
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is New York Varick, with 5 of them deciding cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates among this group range from 48% to 85% on their records since 2016. Your preparation strategy remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Judge Richards has an approval rate of 61% since 2017, while the bench at New York Varick ranges from 48% to 85% on their records since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these local trends.
Yes, the approval rate for Judge Richards has trended upward over time, moving from 50% in 2018 to 70% in 2026. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards required for a favorable decision.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your limitations.
The 61% approval rate on record for Judge Richards is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of your outcome. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your case and ensure your medical evidence is fully presented.
