Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Nancy Lisewski based on her 2,380 decisions on record since 2016. Because she is not in the most recent SSA file, this record provides the most complete view of her past decision-making. We compare this against the 53% to 80% range of the 8 judges currently active at the South Jersey Hearing Office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Lisewski is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Lisewski isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Lisewski'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
Since 2016, Nancy Lisewski has maintained a steady volume of decisions, with a total of 2,380 cases on record through 2022. Her yearly approval rate fluctuated during this period, starting at 50% in 2016 and reaching a high of 60% in 2021 before closing at 43% in 2022. The data shows no singular trend, as the annual percentages moved between 43% and 60% over the seven-year window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lisewski'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 South Jersey hearing office
The South Jersey Hearing Office serves you in New Jersey and is part of the broader regional network of Social Security Administration offices. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, it manages a significant volume of disability hearings. You can see the South Jersey Hearing Office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is South Jersey
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the South Jersey Hearing Office, there are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 8 of them having decided cases in SSA's latest file. These 8 active judges range from 53% to 80% 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
Nancy Lisewski has a 50% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits below the 53% to 80% range of the 8 judges who have decided cases at the South Jersey Hearing Office in the latest SSA file. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence to this specific bench.
Her approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 50% in 2016 and ending at 43% in 2022 across 2,380 total decisions. While the rate hit a peak of 60% in 2021, it has not followed a single linear path. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical fluctuations.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the South Jersey Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing no matter which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how Nancy Lisewski will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends on the medical evidence and testimony you provide at your hearing. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
