Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your 62% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, the latest-period figures offer a snapshot of recent activity. In the most recent reporting period, your approval rate was 66%, compared to the 76% office-wide average. These figures are based on a total of 2,941 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Stefanelli'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
Your approval rate has fluctuated since 2016. After starting at 51% in 2016, your annual approval rate reached a peak of 78% in 2025. The latest fiscal year-to-date data shows a 66% approval rate over 74 decisions. This recent figure reflects a shift from the higher approval levels seen in the previous two years, though it remains within the range of your historical performance.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stefanelli'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
The Queens hearing office serves claimants in New York. This office hosts a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. In the latest reporting period, the office-wide approval rate was 76%. You can visit the Queens hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
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 essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. Approval rates for 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
Judge Stefanelli has an approval rate of 62% on record since 2016. This sits within the 49% to 85% range of the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Queens hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years. It began at 51% in 2016 and reached 78% in 2025, with the latest fiscal year-to-date rate at 66%. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to have a strong, well-documented case regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and daily limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical observation based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Judge Stefanelli has approved 62% of cases since 2016, your outcome depends on the unique facts of your medical condition. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
