Who decides cases at this office
The panel at New York Varick consists of 6 judges with a moderate spread in their allowance rates, which range from 49% to 80%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence differently. While the median allowance rate of 75% is high, this is not a guarantee for your specific claim. Your preparation must be robust enough to satisfy the requirements of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharif F. Nesheiwat | 83% | 1,987 | |
| 2 | Edward H. Hein | 78% | 8,475 | |
| 3 | Thomas C. Gray | 78% | 21,744 | |
| 4 | M. Reeves | 74% | 13,043 | |
| 5 | Jason A. Miller | 66% | 27,287 | |
| 6 | Janet McEneaney | 64% | 12,773 | |
| 7 | Sommattie Ramrup | 63% | 10,956 | |
| 8 | Latanya White Richards | 60% | 19,443 | |
| 9 | Aaron M. Morgan | 43% | 2,359 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? See if you qualify for representation before your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At New York Varick, 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
With a 9-month wait, you have a steady runway to strengthen your file before your hearing date. You should prioritize updating your medical records to include any treatments or hospitalizations that occurred after your initial denial. Your hearing will involve an ALJ and likely a vocational expert who will testify about your ability to perform specific jobs. You must submit all new evidence well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted. Bring a clear list of your medications, their side effects, and a log of your daily activities to help the judge understand your limitations. A well-documented file is the most effective tool for navigating this office's high-allowance environment.
Even at an office with a 71% allowance rate, cases often fail if the record does not clearly address the vocational expert's testimony. Building a precise, evidence-backed narrative ensures your case stands on its own regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at New York Varick, 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.