Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 7 judges at this office shows a moderate spread in allowance rates, ranging from 57% to 92% with a median of 77%. While this indicates that outcomes can vary depending on which judge is assigned to your case, random assignment means you cannot choose your judge. Each judge weighs evidence differently, so your goal is to build a case that is robust enough to meet the standards of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan Leventer | 84% | 27,643 | |
| 2 | Margaret L. Pecoraro | 82% | 24,301 | |
| 3 | Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld | 74% | 903 | |
| 4 | Margaret A. Donaghy | 68% | 11,058 | |
| 5 | Jay L. Cohen | 68% | 10,398 | |
| 6 | Michael D. Cofresi | 67% | 836 | |
| 7 | Sandra M. McKenna | 66% | 17,827 | |
| 8 | Robert R. Schriver | 64% | 17,887 | |
| 9 | Jacqueline Haber Lamkay | 63% | 3,402 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Queens, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Going to your hearing
Hearings at the Joseph P Addabbo Federal Building typically involve you, an ALJ, and often a vocational expert who will testify about job availability based on your physical or mental limitations. Your most important task is to submit updated medical records that capture your condition since your last denial. Do not wait until the last minute; evidence submission deadlines are strictly enforced. Bring a list of your current medications, including side effects, and a log of your daily activities to help the judge understand your functional reality. If you have statements from family or former coworkers, these can provide essential context for your limitations. The judge will not give you a decision on the day of the hearing; you will receive a written notice by mail several weeks later.
With an allowance rate of 78%, this office is a favorable venue for claimants, but that rate often masks the complexity of the cases that are denied. When a panel's approval rates vary by 35 points, your file must be strong enough to withstand the scrutiny of the most conservative judge in the building. Focusing on the consistency of your medical evidence remains the most effective way to prepare for your hearing.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Queens, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.