Who decides cases at this office
The 16 ALJs at the Bronx office show a wide spread in their approval rates, which range from 43% to 84%. Because outcomes vary across this panel, which judge you draw can impact your case. Judges are assigned randomly, and each weighs evidence differently, so your file must be strong enough to stand on its own merits regardless of the specific judge assigned.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean P. Walsh | 84% | 124 | |
| 2 | Zachary S. Weiss | 70% | 1,496 | |
| 3 | Alexander G. Levine | 67% | 1,761 | |
| 4 | Selwyn S. Walters | 67% | 2,114 | |
| 5 | Lynn Neugebauer | 65% | 1,142 | |
| 6 | Brian G. Kanner | 64% | 2,435 | |
| 7 | Kimberly L. Schiro | 62% | 2,066 | |
| 8 | Kimberly D. Schulz | 57% | 718 | |
| 9 | Miriam L. Shire | 57% | 1,767 | |
| 10 | Raymond Prybylski | 54% | 2,736 | |
| 11 | Sharda Singh | 53% | 3,527 | |
| 12 | Benjamin Green | 52% | 133 | |
| 13 | Jeffrey Gardner | 45% | 221 | |
| 14 | Elias Feuer | 44% | 1,955 | |
| 15 | John Carlton | 43% | 2,354 | |
| 16 | Angela Banks | 43% | 2,338 |
Former & transferred judges
SSA rosters change as judges retire, transfer, or move to national assignments. These judges previously decided Social Security disability cases from this location but are not on the current roster. Their full public decision records are on their profiles.
How 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.
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.
Going to your hearing
With an 8.5-month wait, you have a window to gather updated medical records that were missing from your initial application. Your hearing will typically involve an ALJ and a vocational expert who will testify about your ability to perform specific jobs. You must bring valid identification and any new evidence, such as a daily-activity log or updated medication lists, to the hearing. Because the Bronx panel features a wide range of approval rates, your prep should focus on documenting your functional limitations thoroughly. Evidence must be submitted well before the hearing date to ensure the judge has time to review it. You will receive the final decision by mail after the proceeding concludes.
When a panel's approval rates span over 40 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it due to weak documentation. Many claimants spend the 8.5-month wait time simply waiting, while others use that period to pressure-test medical evidence against the vocational expert's likely testimony. A professional review of your file can identify gaps that often lead to denials, ensuring you are ready for the specific requirements of the Bronx hearing panel.
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.
Frequently asked questions
The average wait for a hearing at the Bronx office is 8.5 months. This is slightly longer than the national average of 8.2 months, providing you with extra time to work with an attorney to strengthen your medical file.
ALJs are assigned to cases randomly at the Bronx office. Because there are 16 judges with approval rates ranging from 43% to 84%, an attorney can help you understand the specific evidentiary standards that may be applied to your case.
In most cases, you cannot choose your judge. Because the Bronx panel has a wide spread in approval rates, the best strategy is to ensure your medical evidence is comprehensive enough to meet the standards of any judge on the panel. An attorney can help you prepare for this.
While you are not required to have a lawyer, the wide variation in judge approval rates in the Bronx makes professional representation a significant advantage. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and evidence to maximize your chances of approval.