Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your judge's overall approval rate on record since 2023 is 49%, latest-period data shows a 40% approval rate, which sits 11 points below the 51% average for the Philadelphia East office. These figures rely on a volume of 1,074 decisions on record since 2023. 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 Lazzaro'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
The approval rate for Michele Lazzaro has shown a downward trend over the observed period. In 2024, the approval rate was 57% over 324 decisions, shifting to 53% over 576 decisions in 2025. The most recent data for 2026 shows a 40% approval rate over 478 decisions. This recent decline reflects the latest period compared to the overall average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lazzaro'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 Philadelphia East hearing office
Michele Lazzaro's most recent office on record is the Philadelphia East hearing office, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 9 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 51%, reflecting the environment in which your hearing occurs. You can see the Philadelphia East Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Philadelphia East
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Philadelphia East hearing office, there are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 4 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. These judges demonstrate an approval-rate range of 44% to 71% on their records. Preparation remains consistent 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
Judge Lazzaro's latest-period approval rate of 40% is 11 points lower than the 51% average for the Philadelphia East hearing office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has trended from 57% in 2024 to 40% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process effectively random. An attorney can help you prepare for any judge you are assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony to determine if you meet the criteria for disability. Because the process is complex, an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare for questioning.
The 49% approval rate on record since 2023 reflects past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
