Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Bell, Stephan

BUFFALONew York Trending up

-4.8 pts vs national average

52.9%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge52.9%

BUFFALO53.9%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

293

Fully favorable

139

47.4%

Partially favorable

5.5%

Denials

138

47.1%

Total dispositions

336

Dismissals

12.8%

Awards

155

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Denied

Fully fav. 47.4%Partially fav. 5.5%Denied 47.1%

Approval rate history

FY2015

66.7%3 dec

FY2016

58.9%414 dec

FY2017

55.9%426 dec

FY2018

48.8%486 dec

FY2019

55.2%348 dec

FY2020

57.9%340 dec

FY2021

57.1%254 dec

FY2022

41.3%196 dec

FY2023

57.1%231 dec

FY2024

63.7%234 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at BUFFALO (4)

Baird, Bryce
94 dec61.7%
Georger, Paul
345 dec61.2%
Cordovani, Stephen
301 dec47.5%
Weir, William M
303 dec46.2%

Judges in New York with the most decisions

Theurer, Kenneth
SYRACUSE408 dec
Morgan, Aaron M.
NEW YORK VARICK366 dec
Devlin, Michael
ROCHESTER361 dec
Berkowitz, Alan B
LONG ISLAND342 dec
Gray, Thomas
NEW YORK VARICK340 dec

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.