Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Marissa A. Pizzuto based on her 2,227 total decisions on record since 2016. Because she is not in the most recent SSA file, this figure represents her complete data window through 2025. We compare this against the range of 41% to 81% observed among the judges who have decided cases at the New York office in the latest available file.
Judge Pizzuto is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Pizzuto isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
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
Since 2016, Marissa A. Pizzuto has issued 2,227 decisions. Her approval rate has fluctuated, starting at 72% in 2016 and reaching a peak of 89% in 2020. Following this, the rate was 73% in 2021, 86% in 2022, 88% in 2023, 77% in 2024, and 78% in 2025.
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.
About the New York hearing office
The New York hearing office maintains a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the New York hearing office page for the full roster of judges.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New York
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. Among the judges who decided cases at the New York office in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 41% to 81% on their records since 2016. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 5 of them having decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Marissa A. Pizzuto has an 81% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits at the top of the 41% to 81% range observed among the 5 judges who decided cases at the New York office in the latest SSA file. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
Her approval rate has shown variation over the years, ranging from a low of 72% in 2016 to a high of 89% in 2020. Most recently, the rate was 78% in 2025. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews the evidence in your file. You will likely testify about your limitations, and a vocational expert may provide testimony regarding your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
