Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Joseph R. Faraguna based on his record from 2016 through 2020. These figures represent 1,882 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
Judge Faraguna is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Faraguna isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Faraguna'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
Joseph R. Faraguna's record spans 1,882 decisions from 2016 through 2020. The approval rate was 80% in 2016, 80% in 2017, 83% in 2018, 82% in 2019, and 72% in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Faraguna'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.
About the Long Island hearing office
The Long Island Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Joseph R. Faraguna as of September 2020. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 7 of those judges appearing in the most recent SSA file. You can see the Long Island Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Long Island
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. Within the Long Island Hearing Office, the 7 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 48% to 77% on their since-2016 records. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 7 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Joseph R. Faraguna's 81% approval rate on record through 2020 sits above the 48% to 77% range observed among the 7 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these historical patterns may relate to your specific case.
His approval rate was 80% in 2016 and reached 83% in 2018, before moving to 72% in 2020. These figures reflect his 1,882 decisions on record through 2020. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate your case in light of these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical observation based on past decisions, not a prediction for your hearing. The outcome of your case depends on the evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for the hearing.
