Approval rates
Evaluating your judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their peers. The 51% approval rate for Marilyn D. Zahm is based on 129 decisions on record since 2016, which compares to the 28% to 89% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office. This data provides a statistical baseline for understanding how different adjudicators have approached similar cases.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Zahm. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Zahm'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 rate for Marilyn D. Zahm shows a shift across the 129 decisions on record since 2016. After an initial period of higher approval rates in 2016 and 2017, the data indicates a decline in the subsequent two years. This trend reflects a change in the outcomes of cases decided during that window, which often relates to shifts in the evidence or the specific mix of cases presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Zahm'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
Marilyn D. Zahm's most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office. This office is part of a regional network that handles a high volume of disability claims. With 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench represents a wide spectrum of decision-making patterns.
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. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 28% to 89% on their since-2016 records. Because assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare.
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
Marilyn D. Zahm has an approval rate of 51% across 129 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 28% to 89% range of the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in outcomes over the 129 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate was higher in 2016 and 2017, it trended lower in 2018 and 2019. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
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 your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your limitations are clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality and completeness of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case.
