Approval rates
When evaluating the likelihood of a favorable outcome, it is useful to compare a judge's performance against the broader bench. Lisa Groeneveld-Meijer's 63% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 26% to 86% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Manchester. In the most recent reporting period, your judge's 62% approval rate compares to a 57% office-wide rate, a 57% state-wide rate, and a 58% national rate.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Groeneveld-Meijer'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
The approval rate for Lisa Groeneveld-Meijer has shown fluctuations across the 3,608 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate reached 72% in 2024, it has also seen periods of lower activity, such as 52% in 2022. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 62% approval rate, which remains consistent with your judge's long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Groeneveld-Meijer'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 Manchester hearing office
Lisa Groeneveld-Meijer's most recent office on record is the Manchester hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 57%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Manchester
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Manchester, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 26% to 86% on their since-2016 records.
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
Lisa Groeneveld-Meijer has an approval rate of 63% on record since 2016. This places your judge within the 26% to 86% range of the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Manchester. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards often seen in this office.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a low of 52% in 2022 to a high of 72% in 2024. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 62% approval rate, which is closely aligned with the 63% average since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the current evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have your case fully prepared regardless of who is assigned to your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your daily activities, your pain levels, and your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is presented effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Lisa Groeneveld-Meijer has a 63% approval rate on record since 2016, your individual result depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your testimony. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your file before your hearing date.
