Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Gina A. Pantuso's 63% approval rate since May 2024 provides a baseline when measured against the 44% to 79% range of her peers at the Jersey City office. In the most recent reporting period, her 64% approval rate sits 1 point below the office average of 65%, 1 point above the state average of 63%, and 6 points above the national average of 58%.
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 Pantuso'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
Your judge's approval rate has shown fluctuation since May 2024. After an approval rate of 65% in 2024, the figure moved to 60% in 2025, with the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period showing a rate of 64%. These 799 decisions on record provide a view of recent activity. The latest period reflects a return toward the higher end of recent performance, suggesting a steady pattern in how cases are evaluated.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pantuso'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 Jersey City hearing office
The most recent office on record for Gina A. Pantuso is the Jersey City hearing office, which serves claimants across New Jersey. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 65%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jersey City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Jersey City hearing office, there are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 44% to 79%.
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
Gina A. Pantuso's 63% approval rate since 2024 falls within the 44% to 79% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Jersey City. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your evidence to the specific requirements of this bench.
Her approval rate has fluctuated, moving from 65% in 2024 to 60% in 2025, and currently sitting at 64% for the 2026 fiscal year to date. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might affect your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is vital to have a strong, well-prepared case that meets the evidentiary standards for disability. An attorney can help you prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of the medical evidence and vocational testimony you provide. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your evidence to put your best case forward.
