Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 78% approval rate for Debra Meachum reflects her total decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 50% to 78% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Madison hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the office bench.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Meachum. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Meachum'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
The approval trend for Debra Meachum has remained relatively consistent over the years, with a volume of 2,376 decisions on record since 2016. While your annual approval rate fluctuated between 75% and 83% from 2016 through 2021, the 2022 data shows a shift to 57% over a sample of 83 decisions. This recent period reflects a departure from the previous multi-year average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Meachum'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 Madison hearing office
Debra Meachum's most recent office on record is the Madison hearing office. This office features a bench of 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Madison
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Madison hearing office, and their approval rates on record since 2016 range from 50% to 78%.
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
Debra Meachum has an approval rate of 78% on record since 2016. This is at the top of the range for the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Madison hearing office, who collectively range from 50% to 78%. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
Her approval rate was relatively steady between 2016 and 2021, generally hovering between 75% and 83%. The 2022 data shows a lower rate of 57% over 83 decisions. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence fits into these trends.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may ask you questions about your limitations. Having a representative can ensure your testimony is clear and your medical evidence is properly highlighted for the judge. An attorney can help you prepare for this process.
The 78% approval rate for Debra Meachum is a historical average, not a guarantee of how she will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability under SSA rules. An attorney can help you evaluate your case.
