Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context on how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Kimberly Varillo's 78% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, sits above the 68% office average, the 63% state average, and the 58% national average for the same period. These figures rely on a docket of 457 decisions. These rates reflect past performance rather than a guarantee for your upcoming hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
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
Since 2018, Kimberly Varillo has issued 2,830 decisions on record. Her yearly approval rate has fluctuated, reaching 86% in 2024 before moving to 78% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Her recent 12-month rate is consistent with her overall record since 2018.
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 and other claimants in the region. As of the most recent record in July 2026, this office maintains a bench of 13 judges, with 8 having active decisions in the latest SSA file. The office recorded a 68% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is South Jersey
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly, meaning you may be assigned to any judge at the office. Among the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 45% to 81% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 8 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Varillo's 78%. Four of them last decided cases in New Jersey. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's New York region.
- 77% Approval rate, last 12 months Kathleen Cornell
- 76% Approval rate, last 12 months Theresa Merrill
- 81% Approval rate, last 12 months Karen Patterson
- 81% Approval rate, last 12 months Sheena Barr
- 78% Approval rate, last 12 months Michael W. Devlin
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Varillo and the three closest side by side →
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 78% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is higher than the 68% average for the South Jersey Hearing Office. Among the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 45% to 81% over that same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Kimberly Varillo's approval rate has varied over her time on record since 2018, ranging from a low of 65% in 2019 to a high of 86% in 2024. Her recent 12-month rate of 78% is part of this historical trend. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Kimberly Varillo's 78% rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, provides context, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most critical factor. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case.
