South Jersey Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
New Jersey · SSA Region 02
Approval Rate
68.3%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
9 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
321 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,852
awaiting hearing
ALJs
8
active judges
South Jersey ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics
Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.
| Judge | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Fully Favorable | Total Decisions | Dispositions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Patterson | 80.9% | 19.1% | 67.5% | 508 | 576 |
| Kimberly Varillo | 78.1% | 21.9% | 70.7% | 457 | 511 |
| Kathleen Cornell | 76.7% | 23.3% | 65.9% | 455 | 522 |
| Frederick Timm | 67.5% | 32.5% | 60.6% | 449 | 511 |
| Elizabeth A. Lardaro | 64.8% | 35.2% | 56% | 250 | 316 |
| Lisa Hibner Olson | 64.3% | 35.7% | 55.4% | 395 | 472 |
| Nicholas Cerulli | 60.3% | 39.7% | 54.4% | 204 | 248 |
| Tonya Green | 44.6% | 55.4% | 31.2% | 417 | 492 |
About the South Jersey Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the South Jersey hearing office in New Jersey as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 02, 8 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.
The office's average approval rate is 68.3%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. While above the national benchmark, this figure aggregates decisions across all judges and encompasses both fully and partially favorable outcomes. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 44.6% to 80.9%, a 36-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 321 days. There are currently 2,852 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 357 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 57.7%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.
How to Interpret South Jersey Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at South Jersey, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.
With an average wait time of 9 months and 321 days average processing time, claimants at South Jersey can expect a total timeline of roughly 20 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at South Jersey have collectively issued 3,135 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 392 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 204 to 508 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
South Jersey Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at South Jersey?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 44.6% to 80.9%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 57.7%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at South Jersey?
How long is the wait time at South Jersey?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 20 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.
How is office data calculated?
What is the fully favorable rate at South Jersey?
How does South Jersey compare to other offices in the state?
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