Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your judge's 80% approval rate covers all decisions since 2016, her latest-period performance shows an 84% approval rate, which stands 8 points above the 76% office average. These figures are derived from a volume of 3,593 decisions on record. 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 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
Since January 2016, your judge's approval rate has varied across 3,593 decisions on record. After reaching 86% in 2024, the rate was 78% in 2025 and 84% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This fluctuation suggests that while your judge maintains a high overall approval rate, annual outcomes shift based on the evidence presented in each case.
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.
About the Queens hearing office
Margaret L. Pecoraro's most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 76%, you can expect a review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Queens
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 6 of them having decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 49% to 85% on their records since 2016.
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
Margaret L. Pecoraro maintains an 80% approval rate on her record since 2016. Among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office, approval rates range from 49% to 85%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The approval rate for Margaret L. Pecoraro has fluctuated, starting at 79% in 2016 and reaching 84% in the most recent partial fiscal year. These variations are common as case mixes and evidence quality change. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge by having your medical evidence organized with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you feel more confident and prepared to present your case effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Margaret L. Pecoraro has an 80% approval rate since 2016, every case is decided on its own merits. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your unique situation.
