Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall approval rate on record since 2016 is 60%, his latest-period approval rate of 64% sits 7 percentage points higher than the Manchester office's latest-period rate of 57%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable view of past activity. 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 Malvey'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 December 2016, the approval rate for Edward Malvey has shown fluctuations, moving from 63% in 2017 to a low of 50% in 2019 before trending upward. Recent years have seen a more consistent pattern, with the 2026 fiscal year-to-date approval rate sitting at 64%. This latest period shows a rate that remains above the office average, reflecting a continuation of the patterns observed in recent years. The data suggests a stable approach to case evaluation over the most recent reporting cycles.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Malvey'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
The Manchester hearing office serves claimants across New Hampshire and the surrounding region. As one of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, Edward Malvey contributes to a bench that maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 57%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Manchester hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Manchester
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Manchester office, with 6 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 26% to 86% based on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Edward Malvey's latest-period approval rate of 64% is 7 percentage points higher than the Manchester office's latest-period average of 57%. Because case assignment is random, you cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific requirements of this office.
Yes, the approval rate for Edward Malvey has varied over time, starting at 63% in 2017 and reaching 64% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence presented. An attorney can help you understand how to best present your medical evidence to meet the current standards.
No, the Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You do not have the ability to select your judge, which is why preparing a strong, evidence-based case is essential regardless of who is assigned. A qualified attorney can help you navigate the hearing process effectively.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. The goal is to determine if your condition meets the strict criteria for disability benefits. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are complete.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how Edward Malvey will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well it aligns with SSA regulations. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your evidence before your hearing date.
