Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Joshua Menard's since-2016 SSDI approval rate of 49% sits within the broader 26% to 86% range observed among the bench at the Manchester hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, his 53% approval rate is 4 points lower than the office-wide rate of 57%. These figures are derived from 3,371 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Menard'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, Joshua Menard has maintained a varied approval pattern. The rate reached a low of 39% in 2021 before trending upward. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows an approval rate of 53%.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Menard'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
Joshua Menard's most recent office on record is the Manchester hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office is part of a regional network managing disability claims. With 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains an overall latest-period approval rate of 57%. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
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 hearing office, 6 of whom decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 26% to 86% since 2016.
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
Joshua Menard's 49% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 26% to 86% range of his peers at the Manchester hearing office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of the judge you are assigned.
Yes, the approval rate for Joshua Menard has fluctuated over time, ranging from a low of 39% in 2021 to a recent 53% in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. An attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence aligns with current patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain impartial and random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert testify before the judge. The judge reviews your medical records and testimony to determine if you meet the criteria for SSDI benefits. An attorney can help you navigate this process.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. A lower-than-average rate simply means that presenting a well-documented case is critical, and an attorney can help you prepare for that challenge.
