Approval rates
Paul G. Martin has presided over 12,985 lifetime decisions during his 10-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate reached 64%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the national average and 3 points above the Manchester office average. This data provides a statistical baseline for his decision-making history, though these aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than 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 Martin'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 the past decade, your judge's approval rate has remained relatively stable, with yearly fluctuations between 55% and 67%. His recent performance shows a slight uptick compared to his lifetime average, reflecting a consistent approach to evaluating evidence. This pattern suggests that he maintains a steady standard for disability claims, with the latest period continuing this stable trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Martin'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 Martin? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout 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 maintains an average approval rate of 59%, which aligns closely with state and national benchmarks. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Manchester office, lifetime approval rates for the bench range from 46% to 64%. Because your assigned judge is outside of your control, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare for your hearing.
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.