Approval rates
Comparing a judge's historical data to broader benchmarks provides context for your hearing. While the national average approval rate stands at 58%, Judge Meyer maintains a lifetime rate of 59%. During the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded an approval rate of 68%, which aligns with the Honolulu Hearing Office average. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 16,228 lifetime decisions, offering a stable view of past trends.
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 Meyer'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 9 years on the bench, Judge Meyer has shown a distinct evolution in decision patterns. Early in the tenure, approval rates were lower, but the data shows a steady upward trend, particularly between 2019 and 2023, where rates climbed from 47% to 72%. While the most recent period shows a stabilization at 68%, this remains consistent with the judge's long-term trajectory. This pattern reflects a judge whose approach to evidence and testimony has evolved over a decade of service.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Meyer'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 Meyer? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Honolulu hearing office
The Honolulu Hearing Office serves you and other claimants throughout Hawaii and the surrounding region. With a bench of 5 ALJs, this office manages a high volume of cases to ensure timely access to benefits. The office-wide approval rate currently sits at 68%, reflecting the local administrative environment. You can see the Honolulu Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is selected randomly. Within the Honolulu Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 48% to 82%. This variance highlights why it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of the specific judge assigned. You can find more information on the office's overall performance on the Honolulu Hearing Office page.
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.