Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at both their career-long history and recent trends. Judge Neiswanger's 61% lifetime approval rate is based on a significant volume of 5,660 decisions, providing a reliable statistical baseline. While the latest reporting period shows a variance of -3 points against the local office average, these figures are contextual. 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 Neiswanger'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 a 3-year tenure, Judge Neiswanger has seen fluctuations in approval activity. The data shows a peak in 2017 at 68% approval, followed by a shift to 51% in 2018. This trend suggests that while the lifetime average is 61%, the most recent period reflects a more conservative approach to case outcomes. Such shifts often correlate with changes in the complexity of cases assigned or evolving evidentiary requirements.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Neiswanger'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 Neiswanger? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Eugene hearing office
The Eugene Hearing Office serves a broad population across Oregon, managing a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 64%, it functions as a critical hub for regional SSDI adjudication. You should expect a formal process focused on the documentation of your impairments. You can see the Eugene 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 assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Eugene Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 44% to 81%. Because the judge you draw is outside your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective strategy. You can find more information on the Eugene 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.