Approval rates
Judge Bossong’s approval rate is evaluated against the latest performance metrics of the South Jersey Hearing Office and national benchmarks. With a lifetime record of 4,157 decisions, the data provides a clear view of historical trends. Currently, the judge’s approval rate tracks 6 points above the local office average and 18 points above the national average. These rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Bossong'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
Throughout a 2-year tenure, Judge Bossong has maintained a consistent approval rate of 76%. This stability is evident across the 4,157 lifetime decisions recorded. The yearly trend shows no significant deviation, suggesting a reliable approach to case evaluation. This consistency provides a predictable framework for how your evidence is weighed in this courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bossong'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.
Hearing with Judge Bossong? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the South Jersey hearing office
The South Jersey Hearing Office manages a high volume of disability claims through its 6-judge bench. The office currently reports a 70% approval rate, reflecting the local environment for SSDI hearings. You can expect a formal process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. See the South Jersey Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your specific judge is assigned randomly. Across the 6 judges at the South Jersey Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates vary, ranging from 49% to 76%. While these differences exist, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent regardless of the judge. You can find more information on the South Jersey Hearing Office page.
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.