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Updated June 2026 · SSA Public
Administrative Law Judge
Bell, Stephan
BUFFALO Stable
-5.7 pts vs national average
52.1%lifetime approval
vs baselines
This judge52.1%
BUFFALO54.1%
National avg57.8%
Total decisions
267
Fully favorable
124
46.4%
Partially favorable
15
5.6%
Denials
128
47.9%
Total dispositions
305
Dismissals
38
12.5%
Awards
139
3-year trend
Stable
FY2025 decision breakdown
Fully fav.
Denied
Fully fav. 46.4%Partially fav. 5.6%Denied 47.9%
Approval rate history
FY2015
66.7%3 dec
FY2016
58.9%414 dec
FY2017
55.9%426 dec
FY2018
53.3%92 dec
FY2018
47.7%394 dec
FY2019
55.2%348 dec
FY2020
0.0%1 dec
FY2020
58.1%339 dec
FY2021
50.0%6 dec
FY2021
57.3%248 dec
FY2022
41.3%196 dec
FY2023
60.0%5 dec
FY2023
57.1%226 dec
FY2024
63.7%234 dec
Above national Below national National avg
Other ALJs at BUFFALO (4)
Next step
Estimate approval odds
See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.