Approval rates
Judge Lissek maintains an approval rate that consistently outpaces regional and national benchmarks. In the most recent reporting period, this judge approved cases at a rate 13 points higher than the Newark office average and 12 points above the national average of 58%. With a docket spanning 18,286 total dispositions, these figures offer a look at past performance. Please note that aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Lissek'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 7-year tenure, Judge Lissek has demonstrated a steady approach to disability adjudication. After a peak in 2020 where approvals reached 77%, the rate stabilized at 66% in 2022. This trend reflects the application of SSA standards across a high-volume docket of 15,165 total decisions. While these patterns offer insight into the judge's history, the lifetime average reflects the docket as a whole, not a prediction for your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lissek'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 Lissek? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Newark hearing office
The Newark Hearing Office serves a significant population across New Jersey, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office reports a latest approval rate of 57%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony.
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.