Approval rates
Comparing Elizabeth A. Lardaro's performance requires looking at consistent reporting periods. While the overall approval rate since 2017 is 60%, recent data shows a 66% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest figure sits 3 percentage points below the South Jersey office average of 69%, but 8 percentage points above the national average of 58%. These figures are based on a significant volume of cases, providing a stable statistical baseline.
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 Lardaro'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
Elizabeth A. Lardaro's approval rate has shown fluctuation across the 2,409 decisions on record since 2017. Following a period of lower approval rates around 2019 and 2021, the trend has stabilized, with the most recent fiscal year-to-date data showing an approval rate of 66%. This recent uptick reflects a shift from the long-term average, suggesting that your current case mix or evidentiary standards may be evolving.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lardaro'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.
About the South Jersey hearing office
The South Jersey hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a critical hub for disability adjudications. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains a collective latest-period approval rate of 69%. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical evidence, as the office bench shows significant variance in decision outcomes.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is South Jersey
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the South Jersey office, and 8 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. Approval rates for this bench range from 50% to 93% on their records since 2016.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Elizabeth A. Lardaro's 60% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the broader range of 50% to 93% seen among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the South Jersey office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the 2,409 decisions on record since 2017. While the long-term average is 60%, the latest-period approval rate is 66%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical documentation.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process random. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are complete.
