Approval rates
Judge Levin's lifetime approval rate of 46% is based on a docket of 21,507 decisions accumulated over his 10-year tenure. When looking at the most recent reporting period, his 43% approval rate trails the Manchester office average of 59% and the national average of 58%. These metrics provide a high-level view of historical trends within his courtroom. 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 Levin'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 his 10 years on the bench, Judge Levin has maintained a steady decision pattern, with annual approval rates fluctuating between 40% and 52%. The most recent data shows a 43% approval rate, which aligns with his long-term career average. This consistency suggests that his approach to evaluating evidence has remained stable throughout his time in Manchester. The latest period reflects a continuation of this established pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Levin'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 Levin? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Manchester hearing office
The Manchester Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across New Hampshire and parts of the surrounding region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a significant volume of disability claims to ensure timely access to hearings. The office currently reports an approval rate of 59%, reflecting the broader administrative environment in which Judge Levin operates. You can visit the Manchester Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Manchester office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 46% to 64%. Because your assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. The guidance for your hearing remains consistent regardless of which judge you are 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.