Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Hon. Lisa Groeneveld-Meijer maintains a lifetime approval rate of 64%, which currently trends 5 points above the Manchester office average and 6 points above the national average. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 20,137 lifetime decisions, offering a stable view of their decision-making history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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
Over a 10-year tenure, Hon. Lisa Groeneveld-Meijer has navigated a varied caseload with a generally consistent approach. While the annual approval rate has fluctuated—ranging from a low of 55% in 2022 to a high of 74% in 2024—the overall trajectory remains steady. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 61%, which aligns closely with their long-term performance. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates each case based on the specific evidence presented rather than a rigid internal quota.
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.
Hearing with Judge Groeneveld-Meijer? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Manchester hearing office
The Manchester Hearing Office serves claimants across New Hampshire, managing a high volume of disability appeals. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a collaborative environment where each ALJ manages a substantial docket. Claimants can generally expect a professional hearing process focused on the medical and vocational requirements of the Social Security Act. See the Manchester Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you have no control over which judge hears your case. Within the Manchester office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 46% to 64%. This variance highlights why it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of the specific judge assigned. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you're assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.