Approval rates
Judge Faraguna maintains a lifetime approval rate of 81%, a figure derived from 12,207 lifetime decisions. When compared to the most recent reporting period, this judge outperforms the Long Island Hearing Office average by 6 points and the national average by 23 points. These statistics provide a broad view of judicial history, though they do not guarantee a specific outcome for your hearing. You can learn more about the Long Island Hearing Office here.
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 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
Over a 5-year tenure, Judge Faraguna has demonstrated a steady pattern of approvals. While the rate remained consistently high between 2016 and 2019, the most recent data from 2020 shows a shift to 72%. This variation is common in administrative law and may reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the evidence presented during that period. The overall trend remains well above regional and national benchmarks.
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.
Hearing with Judge Faraguna? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Long Island hearing office
The Long Island Hearing Office serves a large population in New York, managing a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 75%, this location operates under significant caseload demands. You should expect a professional environment focused on the specific medical evidence of your disability. You can visit the Long Island 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 you cannot choose your judge. At the Long Island Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 61% to 81%. Because case assignment is essentially random, you should focus on building a strong medical record regardless of who presides over your hearing.
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.