Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent reporting periods. While Kimberly Varillo maintains a 77% lifetime approval rate, her latest-period performance shows an approval rate of 78%, which sits 9 points above the current South Jersey office average of 69%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a reliable statistical baseline for the South Jersey hearing office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Varillo'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
Kimberly Varillo's record, spanning 2,830 decisions since 2018, shows a pattern of steady approval rates that peaked in 2024 at 86% before adjusting to 78% in the most recent reporting period. This trajectory suggests a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims over the last several years. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, as the judge maintains a rate notably higher than both the state and national averages for the same timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Varillo'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 across the region, operating as a key venue for disability adjudications in New Jersey. The office bench consists of 13 judges on record, with a collective latest-period approval rate of 69%. 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 utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the South Jersey office, there are 13 judges on record since 2016, 8 of whom reported in the latest SSA period. These judges exhibit a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 50% to 93%. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Kimberly Varillo's latest-period approval rate of 78% is 9 points higher than the South Jersey office's latest-period average of 69%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Kimberly Varillo's approval rate has shown a steady trend since 2018, reaching a high of 86% in 2024 before settling at 78% in the most recent period. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your specific claim, an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges at the South Jersey office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the standards of any judge you might draw.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the specific questions Kimberly Varillo or any other judge may ask.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of a future outcome. While Kimberly Varillo has a 77% lifetime approval rate, your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible before your hearing date.