Approval rates
Judge Pizzuto currently maintains an approval rate of 78% based on the latest reporting period, which is 22 percentage points higher than the New York office average of 60% and 24 points above the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable look at historical decision-making trends. 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 Pizzuto'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 a 10-year tenure, Judge Pizzuto has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability adjudication. While your judge's yearly approval rates have fluctuated—ranging from a low of 72% in 2016 to a high of 88% in 2020 and 2023—the overall trend remains robust. The most recent data shows a slight stabilization, reflecting a continuation of the judge's long-term pattern. This consistency suggests that the judge's approach to evaluating evidence is well-established.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pizzuto'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 Pizzuto? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the New York hearing office
The New York Hearing Office serves a large population across the region, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 ALJs. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 60%, reflecting the complex nature of the cases heard in this jurisdiction. You can expect a formal hearing process where your medical evidence and vocational testimony are central to the outcome. See the New York (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. Within the New York Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 37% to 82%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical documentation is the most effective way to prepare. The guidance for your case 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.