Costa, Leonard F
Newark, NJ · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Hearing Approval Rate
48.7%
Below the national average of 48.7%
Disability judges hear appeals after an initial claim is denied. Judge Costa approves 48.7% of cases — knowing your judge’s track record helps you and your representative prepare. How to prepare for your hearing →
How Judge Costa Decides Cases
Nat'l avg: 48.7%
Nat'l avg: 35.1%
Nat'l avg: 16.2%
Know Your Numbers
Judge Costa approved 48.7% of dispositions. That’s 0.0 percentage points below the national average of 48.7%. Costa decided 286 cases out of 353 total dispositions. Under SSA’s methodology (excluding dismissals), the approval rate is 60.1%. Knowing your judge’s track record can help you prepare for your hearing.
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Get Your Free GuideDetailed Case Counts— Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Total Cases
353
Approved
172
Denied
114
Hearing Office
Newark (NJ)
9.0 months wait · 2,842 pending
Whether your judge's approval rate is high or low, the strongest factor in your outcome is the quality of your medical evidence and whether you have representation. How judge approval rates vary nationally →
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Appearing before Judge Costa?
Claimants with representation are approved at nearly 3× the rate. A free case evaluation takes less than two minutes — and it could change the outcome of your claim.
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