Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes. While you can see a 77% approval rate across Linda A. Stagno's 1,834 decisions on record since 2016, her most recent performance shows a 79% approval rate. This latest-period figure sits 8 points above the office average of 71%, 17 points above the state average of 62%, and 21 points above the national average of 58%. These figures reflect past decisions rather than a guarantee of your outcome.
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 Stagno'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, Linda A. Stagno has maintained a consistent approval pattern across 1,834 decisions. While yearly rates have fluctuated, the trend has remained steady, with a recent approval rate of 79% in the latest period. This latest figure aligns closely with her long-term average, providing a baseline for how your case might be reviewed.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stagno'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 Long Island hearing office
Linda A. Stagno's most recent office on record is the Long Island hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 12 judges. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 71%, you can expect a review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Long Island Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Long Island
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Long Island office. Approval rates among this bench range from 48% to 83% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Linda A. Stagno's 77% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 48% to 83% range of the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Long Island office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a case that meets the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
Linda A. Stagno's approval rate has remained steady over the years, with 1,834 decisions on record since 2016. Her latest-period approval rate of 79% is consistent with her long-term performance. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific disability claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a computer-based workload algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Long Island office. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your medical evidence.
