Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the volume of their work. With 3,293 decisions on record since 2016, the data for Margo Stone provides a clear view of past outcomes. You can compare this against the broader bench at the Fayetteville NC office, where the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one range from 35% to 78% in their own approval rates over the same period.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Stone. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Stone'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
The approval rate for Margo Stone has shown an upward trend since 2016. Starting at 66% in 2016, the rate climbed to 92% in 2024. This pattern reflects a consistent shift in outcomes across the 3,293 decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stone'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 Fayetteville NC hearing office
The Fayetteville NC hearing office serves you and other claimants across North Carolina. With 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office handles a significant volume of Social Security Disability Insurance cases. You can see the Fayetteville NC Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fayetteville NC
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Fayetteville NC hearing office, there are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, from 35% to 78% on their since-2016 records.
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
Margo Stone's 78% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the top of the range for the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Fayetteville NC office. Other judges at this location have approval rates ranging as low as 35%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Margo Stone has trended upward over time. While the rate was 66% in 2016, it reached 92% by 2024. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of your specific outcome. While Margo Stone has approved 78% of cases since 2016, your result depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
