Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the 46% approval rate on record since 2017 provides a long-term view of the docket, the latest-period approval rate of 42% offers insight into more recent trends. These figures are best understood against the 21% to 87% range observed among the bench of judges at this office. 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 Pustizzi'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 December 2017, the approval rate for Jennifer Pustizzi has shown a varied trend. After an initial period of fluctuation, the rate reached a high of 53% in 2022 before moving to 40% in 2023 and 49% in 2025. The latest-period rate of 42% sits slightly below the long-term average, reflecting a continuation of the recent pattern. This variation may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented in recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pustizzi'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 Ft Lauderdale hearing office
The Ft Lauderdale hearing office serves the Florida region and maintains a diverse bench of judges. As of the latest data from July 2026, the office-wide latest-period approval rate stands at 51%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Ft Lauderdale Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Ft Lauderdale
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 10 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 21% to 87%. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Jennifer Pustizzi's latest-period approval rate is 42%, which is 9 percentage points lower than the 51% average for the Ft Lauderdale office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time, ranging from a low of 40% in 2023 to a high of 53% in 2022. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your specific hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain random and impartial. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions the judge may ask.
The approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific case. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, which an attorney can help you gather and present.
