New York Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
New York · SSA Region 02
Approval Rate
60.6%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
10 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
344 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,583
awaiting hearing
ALJs
8
active judges
New York ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics
Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.
| Judge | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Fully Favorable | Total Decisions | Dispositions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joani Sedaca | 82.1% | 17.9% | 66.9% | 290 | 353 |
| James Kearns | 69% | 31% | 65.5% | 29 | 38 |
| Laura Michalec Olszewski | 57.1% | 42.9% | 35.7% | 14 | 16 |
| Ifeoma N. Iwuamadi | 56% | 44% | 40.5% | 348 | 396 |
| Flor M. Suarez | 54.8% | 45.2% | 42.1% | 252 | 338 |
| Kieran McCormack | 50.3% | 49.7% | 44% | 316 | 392 |
| Seth I. Grossman | 47.5% | 52.5% | 38.3% | 261 | 330 |
| Lau Michalec Olszewski | 20% | 80% | 10% | 10 | 12 |
Former Judges at New York
These judges have no recorded decisions at New York in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.
| Judge | Last Decisions Reported | Approval Rate | Total Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moises Penalver | June 2025 | 87% | 131 |
| Marissa A Pizzuto | March 2025 | 75.9% | 187 |
| Mark Solomon | March 2025 | 34.7% | 380 |
| Lucian A Vecchio | March 2025 | 84.9% | 126 |
| Lori Romeo | January 2025 | 53.7% | 108 |
Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.
About the New York Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the New York hearing office in New York as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 02, 8 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.
The office's average approval rate is 60.6%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 20% to 82.1%, a 62-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 10 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 344 days. There are currently 2,583 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 323 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 42.9%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.
How to Interpret New York Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at New York, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.
With an average wait time of 10 months and 344 days average processing time, claimants at New York can expect a total timeline of roughly 21 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at New York have collectively issued 1,520 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 190 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 10 to 348 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
New York Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at New York?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 20% to 82.1%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 42.9%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at New York?
What is the average case processing time at New York?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 21 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.
How is office data calculated?
How often do judges at New York issue fully favorable decisions?
Is New York's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
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