New Jersey and Social Security Disability Benefits
- Why is State-by-State Information Important?
- Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in New Jersey – What You Need To Know
- New Jersey SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
- Hearing Offices in New Jersey & The SSA Offices They Serve
- List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in new Jersey
- More Important Information about The Application Process
ALL STATE DATA UPDATED FOR 2024!
Everyone’s experience applying for Social Security Disability benefits will be unique. Part of this is because everyone’s individual medical and work history is different. But, potential applicants should also know that each state – like New Jersey – has its own story to tell in terms of social security disability benefit approval rates at each stage of the process, as well as waiting times at the hearing stage.
Why is State-by-State Information Important?
Specialized disability advocates (like us here at Citizens Disability) and New Jersey social security disability attorneys know all too well how important it is to understand that every state is different. It’s very helpful to know what the trends are, how long the wait times are from office to office, and what the different rates of approvals are.
Citizens Disability takes a data-driven approach to helping our clients. We want to make sure that we’re giving our clients the best possible advice at every step in the application process. We also work very hard to present the best possible case for each of our clients. Bringing together data from a wide variety of sources – including data like this, which comes from the Social Security Administration – allows us to make smart decisions when we present cases for our clients.
Finally, this information can be very helpful to applicants. Applying for social security benefits is likely a new experience for most applicants, and having an idea of what they can expect from the process can help them be engaged and involved participants with their advocates.
While your own journey may be different than the trends you see here, these tables and charts can help you understand what, on average, you can expect.
You will also find location and contact information for all the offices in New Jersey below.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in New Jersey – What You Need To Know
There are generally three stages in the application process for Social Security Disability benefits: initial application, reconsideration, and the hearing. In this table, you can see how New Jersey compares to the national average (all states in America) when it comes to approval rates at each of those stages.
| Initial Application (L1) | Reconsideration (L2) | Hearing (L3) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 39.8% | 13.4% | 62.4% |
| National Average | 39.5% | 15.1% | 57.7% |
| State Difference: | 0.3% | -1.7% | 4.7% |
As the table shows, New Jersey is ahead at the Initial Application, and Hearing level. However, a touch behind at the Reconsideration level.
New Jersey Initial Application Approval Over Time
| Initial Application Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 39.8% | 40.1% | 42.3% | 40.6% | 42.8% | 41.4% | 38.7% | 39.4% | 38.3% | 38.6% |
| National Average | 39.5% | 38.9% | 38.8% | 37.7% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 35.3% | 34.4% | 33.5% | 32.8% |
As the table and the below chart show, New Jersey has been slightly increasing above the national average of Initial Applications going back to at least 2015. In 2024, New Jersey ranked 32nd in the nation in terms of percentage approval of Initial Applications. While approval rates have Declined in New Jersey over the last few years, they still are slightly above the national average. If you are thinking of applying for SSDI, don’t worry – there are multiple stages to the application process.
New Jersey Reconsideration Approval Over Time
| Reconsideration Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 13.4% | 13.6% | 14.8% | 12.7% | 13.3% | 13.8% | 14.0% | 15.0% | 14.1% | 13.9% |
| National Average | 15.1% | 15.5% | 15.0% | 13.2% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.4% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.7% |
As the table and the below chart indicate, New Jersey has been declining, dropping below the national average when it comes to Approvals at the Reconsideration level. In 2024, New Jersey ranked 41st in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Reconsideration. However, as you can see, in general, the chances of winning approval at Reconsideration are not particularly high. That is why many applicants must continue in the next level, the Hearing.
New Jersey Hearings Approval Over Time
| Hearing Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 62.4% | 63.7% | 58.1% | 56.5% | 58.5% | 58.4% | 60.1% | 64.5% | 59.4% | 61.8% |
| National Average | 57.7% | 56.8% | 54.2% | 54.7% | 51.1% | 52.9% | 53.9% | 56.8% | 54.7% | 53.4% |
As the table and the below chart indicate, new Jersey has slightly better than the national average when it comes to approvals at the Hearing level. In 2024, New Jersey ranked 9th in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Hearings.
However, as you’ll see below, all individual hearing offices in New Jersey are not the same – each office has its own approval rates, and almost as importantly, waiting times. Which hearing office your case is assigned to in New Jersey may have a significant bearing on your chances for approval.
Also worthy of note is the fact that past performance is only one indicator of likely outcomes; as new data comes in, you might see that a state’s performance compared to the national average has either improved or weakened.
New Jersey SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
New Jersey is part of the Social Security Administration’s “Region 2,” which is headquartered in New York. There are 3 hearing offices in New Jersey. You can see waiting times for hearings & case dispositions for each office below, with comparisons to New Jersey and National Averages.
The “Hearing Wait Time (Months)” is, on average, how long it takes in between when an applicant asks for a Hearing and when that hearing occurs.
The “Average Disposition Time (Days)” is, on average, the number of days in between when an applicant asks for a Hearing, and when the Administrative Law Judge who hears their case actually makes a decision on that case.
The “Average Approval Rate” is percentage at which cases are decided in favor of the applicant.
| Hearing Wait Time (Months) | Average Disposition Time (Days) | Average Approval Rate (2024) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Average | 9.3 | 366 | 57.7% |
| New Jersey Average | 10.7 | 439 | 62.4% |
| JERSEY CITY | 7.1 | 337 | 66.5% |
| NEWARK | 10.3 | 423 | 53.5% |
| SOUTH JERSEY | 14.6 | 557 | 72.0% |
As the table here and the chart below indicate, in 2024, New Jersey has a slightly shorter wait time than the national average except for the South Jersey office. Wait times and approval rates in New Jersey is slightly better than the national average at all offices except for their Newark office at 53.5%.
These waiting times and approval rates only highlight how important it can be to have a qualified representative – such as an Advocate from Citizens Disability – working on your case. The Government Accountability Office has done research that shows that an applicant who has a representative has an up to three times greater chance of being approved than a person who goes it alone.
Hearing Offices in New Jersey & The SSA Offices They Serve
These are the “Office of Hearing Operations” offices in New Jersey. These offices are where hearings are scheduled and generally conducted. Each OHO office supports a number of regional Social Security Administration field offices. You are likely (but not guaranteed) to have your hearing scheduled with a Judge who works in the OHO office that supports the SSA field office nearest to you.
Hearing Office Region 2 Jersey City SSA, OHO
Second Floor 325 West Side Avenue
Jersey City, New Jersey 07305
(877) 773-7451 • (201) 324-1709 • (877) 560-6890
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NEW JERSEY: Hoboken, Jersey City
NEW YORK: Hylan Boulevard, South Bronx, Staten Island
Hearing Office Region 2 Newark SSA, OHO
3rd Floor 1100 Raymond Boulevard
Newark, New Jersey 07102
(877) 405-9798 • (973) 645-2467 • (877) 482-0781
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NEW JERSEY: Clifton, East Orange, Hackensack, New Brunswick, Newark, Newton, Parsippany, Paterson, Somerville, Springfield Ave, Union Township, Woodbridge
Hearing Office Region 2 South Jersey SSA, OHO
2475 McClellan Avenue Pennsauken, New Jersey 08109
(866) 964-5769 • (856) 317-3421 • (877) 389-3957
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NEW JERSEY: Brick, Bridgeton, Cherry Hill, Egg Harbor Township, Glassboro, Mount Holly, Neptune, Rio Grande, Toms River, Trenton
List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in new Jersey
| Office Name | Location | Address | City | State | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEWARK NJ | ROOM 1035 | 970 BROAD STREET | NEWARK | NJ | 7102 | (800) 772-1213 |
| TRENTON NJ | ROEBLING MARKET | 635 S CLINTON AVE | TRENTON | NJ | 8611 | (800) 772-1213 |
| CHERRY HILL NJ | 6 EXECUTIVE CAMPUS | SUITE 200 | CHERRY HILL | NJ | 8002 | (800) 772-1213 |
| PATERSON NJ | FIRST FLOOR | 200 FEDERAL PLZ | PATERSON | NJ | 7505 | (800) 772-1213 |
| UNION TOWNSHIP NJ | 855 LEHIGH AVE | UNION | NJ | 7083 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| WOODBRIDGE NJ | 3RD FLOOR | 190 MIDDLESEX TRNPIKE | ISELIN | NJ | 8830 | (800) 772-1213 |
| JERSEY CITY NJ | 325 WEST SIDE AVENUE | JERSEY CITY | NJ | 7305 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| CLIFTON NJ | 935 ALLWOOD RD | CLIFTON | NJ | 7012 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| EGG HARBOR TWP NJ | 1350 DOUGHTY RD | EGG HARBOR TWP | NJ | 8234 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| BRIDGETON NJ | 149 WEST BROAD STREET | BRIDGETON | NJ | 8302 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| NEPTUNE | 3310 STATE ROUTE 66 | NEPTUNE | NJ | 7753 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| HACKENSACK NJ | CONTINENTAL PLZ 2FL | 401 HACKENSACK AVE | HACKENSACK | NJ | 7601 | (800) 772-1213 |
| EAST ORANGE NJ | 7 GLENWOOD AVE STE 100 | EAST ORANGE | NJ | 7017 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| PARSIPPANY NJ | 2ND FLOOR | 2200 STATE RT 10 | PARSIPPANY | NJ | 7054 | (800) 772-1213 |
| NEW BRUNSWICK NJ | SUITE 200 | 550 JERSEY AVENUE | NEW BRUNSWICK | NJ | 8901 | (800) 772-1213 |
| SPRINGFIELD AVE NJ | 274 SPRINGFIELD AVE | NEWARK | NJ | 7103 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| GLASSBORO NJ | 830 DELSEA DR NORTH | GLASSBORO | NJ | 8028 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| TOMS RIVER NJ | 190 ST CATHERINE BLVD | TOMS RIVER | NJ | 8755 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| RIO GRANDE NJ | 1046 ROUTE 47 SOUTH | RIO GRANDE | NJ | 8242 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| BRIDGEWATER NJ | 245 HIGHWAY 22 | SUITE 207 | BRIDGEWATER | NJ | 8807 | (800) 772-1213 |
| HOBOKEN NJ | 6TH FL | 79 HUDSON ST | HOBOKEN | NJ | 7030 | (800) 772-1213 |
| MT LAUREL NJ | 532 FELLOWSHIP ROAD | SUITE E | MOUNT LAUREL | NJ | 8054 | (800) 772-1213 |
| NEWTON NJ | 20 EAST CLINTON STREET | NEWTON | NJ | 7860 | (800) 772-1213 | |
| BRICK NJ | 2620 YORKTOWNE BLVD | BRICK | NJ | 8723 | (800) 772-1213 |
Swipe left & right to see the whole table
All data on this page is current as of July, 2024.
More Important Information about The Application Process
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