Approval rates
Evaluating your chances begins with understanding the statistical landscape of your assigned judge. Judge Damille maintains a lifetime approval rate of 56%, which provides a stable baseline derived from 19,819 lifetime decisions. When compared to the latest national average of 58% and the Newark office average of 57%, these figures offer context for how cases are typically resolved in this jurisdiction. Aggregate 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 Damille'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
Over a 10-year tenure, the approval patterns for Judge Damille have shown notable shifts. After an initial period of higher approval rates in 2016, the data indicates a period of adjustment followed by a more consistent range between 49% and 55% from 2019 through 2024. The most recent reporting period shows an uptick to 60%, suggesting a potential shift in the current case mix or evidentiary standards. This recent performance reflects a departure from the long-term average, signaling that the judge's approach remains responsive to the specific evidence you present in your claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Damille'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 Damille? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Newark hearing office
The Newark Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants across New Jersey, managing a high volume of cases with a dedicated team of administrative law judges. The office currently reports a latest-period approval rate of 57%, aligning closely with broader regional trends. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can view the full ALJ roster on the Newark Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Newark Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 40% to 74%. This variance highlights that the specific judge you draw can influence the procedural flow of your hearing. You can find more information on the office's general operations on the Newark 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.