Approval rates
The approval rate for Edward S. Zanaty is based on 303 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2017. This figure provides a statistical look at past activity. These rates reflect historical patterns rather than a guarantee of future outcomes.
Judge Zanaty is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Zanaty isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Zanaty'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
Edward S. Zanaty issued 303 decisions on record between 2016 and 2017. The data shows an approval rate of 87% in 2016, followed by 75% in 2017. These figures represent the entirety of the available SSA data for this judge.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Zanaty'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 Birmingham hearing office
The Birmingham hearing office is the most recent office on record for Edward S. Zanaty as of September 2017. This office maintains a bench of 23 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can visit the Birmingham hearing office page to see the full roster of judges.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Birmingham
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to ensure workload balance. Among the 7 judges who decided cases at the Birmingham office in the latest SSA file, approval rates on their records since 2016 range from 38% to 77%.
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
Edward S. Zanaty's 85% approval rate on record through 2017 is higher than the range of 38% to 77% seen among the 7 judges who decided cases at the Birmingham office in the latest SSA file. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
The data shows an approval rate of 87% in 2016 and 75% in 2017. This indicates a shift over the period for which records are available. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends on the medical evidence and testimony provided in your file. An attorney can help you organize this evidence to present the strongest possible case.
