Approval rates
The approval rates for Frederick Timm reflect a consistent history of decisions within the South Jersey office. When comparing the latest reporting period, your judge's 69% approval rate aligns with the office-wide average, while remaining 6 percentage points above the state and 11 points above the national average. These figures are based on 4,288 lifetime decisions, ensuring a robust sample size. 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 Timm'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
Since 2016, the approval rate for Frederick Timm has shown a steady pattern, with annual rates fluctuating between 62% and 76%. After a period of higher approvals between 2019 and 2021, the most recent data shows a return to a 69% approval rate. This latest period reflects a continuation of a stable decision-making trend, suggesting that your judge maintains a consistent approach to evaluating your disability evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Timm'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the South Jersey hearing office
The South Jersey hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 13 judges on record. The office currently reports a 69% approval rate for the latest period, reflecting the collective output of its active judges. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the South Jersey Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
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 on record at this office since 2016, 8 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench range from 50% to 93% over their respective lifetimes. You can find more information on the South Jersey hearing office page.
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
Frederick Timm holds a 70% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the 50% to 93% range observed across the South Jersey bench. While this places your judge near the office average, every case is unique. An attorney can help you evaluate how your specific evidence aligns with the expectations of this judge.
The approval rate for Frederick Timm has remained relatively steady since 2016, with annual figures ranging from 62% to 76%. While there have been minor fluctuations, your judge's record shows a consistent approach to case evaluation. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your upcoming hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history, daily limitations, and medical treatments. Having an attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your evidence is presented clearly to the judge.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not guarantee a specific outcome for your case. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it proves your inability to work. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence and strengthen your claim before your hearing.