Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides necessary context for your hearing. Judge DiBiccaro maintains a 56% lifetime approval rate, which we evaluate against the New Haven Hearing Office latest rate of 52% and the national average of 58%. With over 3,500 decisions on record, this data offers a stable view of his historical approach to disability claims. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge DiBiccaro'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
Over his 2 years on the bench, Judge DiBiccaro has maintained a consistent approach to disability adjudication. His approval rate moved from 55% in 2016 to 56% in 2017, indicating a stable decision-making pattern. This consistency suggests that his evaluation criteria remain steady. The recent data reflects a continuation of this established pattern, providing a reliable baseline for you as you prepare for your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge DiBiccaro'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.
Hearing with Judge DiBiccaro? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the New Haven hearing office
The New Haven Hearing Office serves a large population across Connecticut, managing a high volume of SSDI claims with a dedicated team of ALJs. The office currently reports a 52% latest approval rate, reflecting the complex nature of the cases heard in this region. You can expect a formal, evidence-based process designed to evaluate the medical and vocational details of your application. See the New Haven Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the New Haven Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 39% to 57%. This variance highlights why your specific evidence and case presentation are the most critical factors in your outcome. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.