Who decides cases at this office
The panel at the Bronx office consists of 9 judges who demonstrate a moderate spread in their allowance rates. With a median approval rate of 62%, outcomes vary across the group, ranging from 47% to 82%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, making it essential to prepare a case that is strong enough to succeed regardless of who presides over your hearing.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean P. Walsh | 84% | 1,305 | |
| 2 | Zachary S. Weiss | 72% | 12,167 | |
| 3 | Selwyn S. Walters | 68% | 17,412 | |
| 4 | Alexander G. Levine | 67% | 14,817 | |
| 5 | Lynn Neugebauer | 66% | 9,121 | |
| 6 | Brian G. Kanner | 63% | 19,370 | |
| 7 | Kimberly L. Schiro | 62% | 16,641 | |
| 8 | Kimberly D. Schulz | 57% | 2,947 | |
| 9 | Miriam L. Shire | 56% | 13,372 | |
| 10 | Raymond Prybylski | 53% | 18,825 | |
| 11 | Benjamin Green | 51% | 1,072 | |
| 12 | Elias Feuer | 45% | 15,361 | |
| 13 | Jeffrey Gardner | 45% | 1,923 | |
| 14 | John Carlton | 43% | 15,138 | |
| 15 | Angela Banks | 43% | 14,905 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your hearing date.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Bronx, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 9 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
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.
Going to your hearing
Your 9-month wait is an opportunity to build a comprehensive case file. Start by gathering all updated medical records, including recent diagnostic tests and clinical notes that document your condition since your initial denial. You should also prepare a detailed log of your daily activities and a list of medications, specifically noting any side effects that impact your ability to work. During your hearing, an ALJ will preside while a vocational expert typically testifies about whether jobs exist for someone with your specific limitations. You will have the chance to question this expert. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted.
When a panel's allowance rates span 35 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Many claimants assume the hearing is a simple conversation, but the vocational expert's testimony often carries significant weight regarding your ability to perform work. An attorney who understands the local Bronx panel can pressure-test your evidence against the specific standards these judges apply.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Bronx, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.