Approval rates
Comparing a judge's record to their peers helps you understand the local environment at the White Plains hearing office. Across the 5 judges on record at this office, lifetime approval rates range from 43% to 82%. Vincent M. Cascio's 56% rate sits within this established range, reflecting the diverse approaches taken by the bench. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Cascio. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cascio's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
Vincent M. Cascio's approval rate has shown a notable upward trajectory in recent years. While the record began with rates in the low 50% range, the data shows a consistent increase, reaching 65% in 2024 and 70% in 2025. This trend suggests that recent decisions have been more favorable than the historical average. Whether this shift stems from changes in case complexity or evolving evidentiary standards, you should focus on presenting a robust, well-documented case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cascio's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Vincent M. Cascio is essentially random. There are 5 judges on record at this office since 2016, and approval rates vary significantly across the bench. Because you cannot choose your judge, you should focus on the strength of your own medical evidence. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Vincent M. Cascio's 56% lifetime approval rate falls within the 43% to 82% range observed among the 5 judges on record at the White Plains office. While this places him in the middle of the local spectrum, every judge weighs evidence differently. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical records to best meet the expectations of this specific office.
Yes, the data indicates a clear upward trend in recent years. After hovering near 52% to 57% for much of the period since 2016, the approval rate rose to 65% in 2024 and 70% in 2025. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a randomized workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to available judges. Since you have no control over the assignment, the best approach is to ensure your case is fully prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare a case tailored to the standards of this bench.
An SSDI hearing is a formal administrative proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you or vocational experts. The judge's goal is to determine if your condition meets the strict criteria for disability. An attorney can help you prepare for the questions you will likely face during this process.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical documentation and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence before you step into the hearing room.