SSA Hearing Office

South Jersey, NJ Hearing Office

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Most Favorable Judges

Pennsauken, NJ

Approval Rate
93%
Full Approval
79%
Total Decisions
8,642
Approval Rate
79%
Full Approval
67%
Total Decisions
4,486
Approval Rate
77%
Full Approval
71%
Total Decisions
4,363
Approval Rate
76%
Full Approval
75%
Total Decisions
18,782
Approval Rate
76%
Full Approval
65%
Total Decisions
5,188
Approval Rate
74%
Full Approval
63%
Total Decisions
14,389
Approval Rate
70%
Full Approval
64%
Total Decisions
30,321
Approval Rate
69%
Full Approval
62%
Total Decisions
12,561
Approval Rate
60%
Full Approval
54%
Total Decisions
17,088
Approval Rate
60%
Full Approval
46%
Total Decisions
15,734
Approval Rate
58%
Full Approval
39%
Total Decisions
3,896
Approval Rate
53%
Full Approval
45%
Total Decisions
9,171
Approval Rate
49%
Full Approval
42%
Total Decisions
18,366
Rank Judge Approval Rate Full Approval Total Decisions
1Mc Afoos III, Louis G 93% 79% 8,642
2Patterson, Karen 79% 67% 4,486
3Cornell, Kathleen 77% 71% 4,363
4Varillo, Kimberly 76% 75% 18,782
5Bossong, Kenneth 76% 65% 5,188
6Shellhamer, Daniel N 74% 63% 14,389
7Timm, Frederick 70% 64% 30,321
8Hibner Olson, Lisa 69% 62% 12,561
9Lardaro, Elizabeth A 60% 54% 17,088
10Cerulli, Nicholas 60% 46% 15,734
11Green, Tonya 58% 39% 3,896
12Hibner, Lisa 53% 45% 9,171
13Lisewski, Nancy 49% 42% 18,366

Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer

SSDI hearing approval rates — with a lawyer vs. on your own

WITHOUT A LAWYER
baseline approval rate
Applicants without a lawyer
WITH A LAWYER
~3×
higher approval rate
Applicants with a lawyer
Check My Benefits

Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37 — analysis of SSA ALJ adult disability decisions, FY 2007–2015. Applicants with a lawyer got approved at a rate nearly three times higher than those without. Individual case outcomes vary based on medical evidence, the specific judge, and quality of representation. Checking whether you qualify for a free benefits review takes 2 minutes.

Wait Time Trend

Average months from hearing request to decision — last 16 months

Wait (months)
02468101214Jun '24Sep '25

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Frequently Asked Questions

About This Data

Statistics come from SSA's Office of Hearings Operations reports and publicly available judge decision data. Approval rates count both full and partial approvals. Wait times reflect the average from hearing request to decision. Data is based on 2025-09-26 reports and may not reflect current conditions. This page is for informational purposes only.

ClaimsBoost is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ClaimsBoost is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration or any government agency. Performance scores, rankings, and statistics displayed on this site are calculated by ClaimsBoost using publicly available government data from the SSA. Individual results may vary. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice or a guarantee of benefits. If you need legal help, we can connect you with licensed attorneys or accredited representatives in your area.