If you are considering an application for Social Security Disability benefits, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First and foremost, the application process is quite complicated and not as simple as many applicants assume. In fact, the majority of applicants are denied benefits during the initial stage of the application process. In the State of New Jersey, a mere 43.2 percent of applicants are awarded benefits during the initial stage of the application process. This means that 56.8 percent of disability applicants must undergo a disability appeal in order to obtain the benefits they so desperately need.
If your initial claim for Social Security Disability benefits has been denied, you will likely need to attend a disability hearing. This hearing will be your best chance to obtain the benefits that the SSA has denied. The disability hearings are held at the SSA’s ODAR offices and are heard by Administrative Law Judges. In the State of New Jersey there are three ODAR offices. These offices are located in the cities of Newark, Jersey City and South Jersey.
The table below outlines the approval rates and processing times for the ODAR offices in the State of New Jersey versus the national averages.
| Hearing Office | Approval Rate | Processing Time in Days |
| Newark | 66.4% | 374 |
| Jersey City | 58.6% | 323 |
| South Jersey | 77.5% | 332 |
There are currently 33 Administrative Law Judges who are responsible for hearing the cases of New Jersey Social Security Disability applicants. These judges all follow the same laws and guidelines, but they each handle their cases in different ways. New Jersey Social Security Disability lawyers are familiar with the New Jersey Administrative Law Judges and will know what each judge needs to see in order to strengthen your disability case.
While some applicants try to apply for benefits on their own, few are successful without the assistance of a New Jersey Social Security Disability attorney. The attorney you work with will know which Administrative Law Judge has been assigned to your case and will prepare your case accordingly, giving you the best possible chance of success.
If you would like a free consultation with a disability attorney in New Jersey, please fill out the free evaluation form provided for you on this site. The initial consultation with a disability attorney is always free and your attorney will not collect a fee unless you win your Social Security Disability case.
- Brick, NJ
- Camden, NJ
- Clifton, NJ
- East Orange, NJ
- Hamilton, NJ
- Jersey City, NJ
- Newark, NJ
- Patterson, NJ
- Trenton, NJ
