Approval rates
The 74% approval rate for Daniel N. Shellhamer is based on 1,889 decisions on record since 2016. When evaluating this against the broader bench, consider that judges whose most recent office on record is the South Jersey office range from 50% to 93% in their approval rates. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Shellhamer. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Shellhamer'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
The approval rate for Daniel N. Shellhamer remained relatively consistent throughout the 2016 to 2020 data window. Starting at 71% in 2016, the rate reached 77% in 2017, stabilized near 75% for the following two years, and closed at 72% in 2020. This steady pattern across 1,889 decisions suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Shellhamer'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 part of the broader SSA network in New Jersey. This office features a bench of 13 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location, reflecting a diverse range of decision patterns. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the specific medical documentation provided for your claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is South Jersey
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the South Jersey office, with approval rates ranging from 50% to 93% on their since-2016 records. Because case assignment is outside of your control, the best approach is to focus on the strength of your medical evidence.
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
Daniel N. Shellhamer has a 74% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 50% to 93% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the South Jersey office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Daniel N. Shellhamer has remained steady, moving from 71% in 2016 to 72% in 2020, with a peak of 77% in 2017. This consistency across 1,889 decisions indicates a stable pattern in how cases have been evaluated. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily limitations and work history by the judge or a vocational expert. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
The 74% approval rate for Daniel N. Shellhamer represents a historical pattern of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence to strengthen your case.
