Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent data sets. While Patrick Kilgannon maintains a 62% lifetime approval rate, his most recent reporting period shows a 77% approval rate, which sits 6 points above the Long Island office's latest-period average of 71%. These figures are drawn from 3,415 total decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Kilgannon'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
Since 2016, your approval rate for Patrick Kilgannon has shown a notable upward trend. After hovering between 52% and 64% for much of the previous decade, the rate climbed to 74% in 2025 and 77% in 2026. This recent shift suggests a departure from his earlier decision patterns. The latest period reflects a continuation of this recent upward trajectory in favorable outcomes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kilgannon'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 serves you across the region, operating as a critical hub for SSDI adjudication in New York. The office bench consists of 12 judges on record, maintaining a latest-period approval rate of 71%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Long Island Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. The Long Island office features 12 judges on record since 2016, 7 of whom are reported in the latest SSA data. These judges exhibit a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 48% to 83%.
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
Patrick Kilgannon's latest-period approval rate of 77% is 6 percentage points higher than the Long Island office's latest-period average of 71%. Because approval rates vary significantly across the 12 judges on record at this office, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards often favored by this bench.
Yes, the data shows a clear upward trend in recent years. While his approval rate was 52% in 2016, it has risen to 77% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. Understanding these shifts is part of how an attorney can help you build a case strategy tailored to the current environment.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency and impartiality. Since you cannot choose your judge, it is vital to focus on the quality of your medical evidence with the help of an experienced attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for this process and ensure your testimony is clear and consistent.
A judge's lifetime approval rate of 62% is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical documentation remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case against the standards typically applied in this hearing office.