Approval rates
Judge Krappa maintains a lifetime approval rate of 69%, which trends above the Newark Hearing Office latest average of 57%. This data is derived from a docket of 16,955 decisions accumulated over 8 years on the bench. Comparing these figures to the national average of 58% provides context for how this judge evaluates disability claims. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting your individual outcome.
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 Krappa'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 her 8-year tenure, Judge Krappa has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability adjudication. While her approval rate peaked in 2017 at 79%, the trend has stabilized in recent years, with the most recent period showing a 62% approval rate. This pattern reflects a judge who evaluates cases based on evolving standards of evidence and medical documentation. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, balancing the requirements of the Social Security Administration with the needs of your specific claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Krappa'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 Krappa? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Newark hearing office
The Newark Hearing Office serves a large population across New Jersey, managing a high volume of disability claims with a team of 6 administrative law judges. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 57%, reflecting the complex nature of the cases heard in this region. If you are appearing here, you should be prepared for a formal process that prioritizes detailed medical documentation and vocational expert testimony. You can visit the Newark Hearing Office page for more information on the local roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the assignment to a specific judge is random. Within the Newark Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 40% to 69%. Because you cannot choose your judge, you should focus on the strength of your own medical records and testimony. The guidance for your hearing remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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.