Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Pecoraro's lifetime approval rate of 82% is measured against the Queens (New York) office latest rate of 78% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 19,565 lifetime decisions, offering a stable view of her decision-making history. 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 Pecoraro'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 your 10 years on the bench, Judge Pecoraro has maintained a consistent approval pattern. While yearly rates have fluctuated—ranging from 76% in 2020 to a high of 87% in 2024—the overall trend remains robust. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 78%, which aligns closely with the broader office performance. This stability suggests a judge who evaluates cases based on the evidence you present, with the recent data reflecting a continuation of her long-term approach.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pecoraro'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 Pecoraro? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Queens hearing office
The Queens (New York) hearing office serves a large population, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 ALJs. The office currently reports an approval rate of 78%, which is higher than the 65% state average. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Queens (New York) Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. The Queens (New York) bench is diverse, with lifetime approval rates for judges at this office ranging from 64% to 84%. Because case assignment is outside of your control, understanding the general environment of the office is more practical than focusing on individual peers. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.