Judge Ratings for Manchester NH Social Security Hearings (Oct 2024)

The Quality of Manchester NH Social Security Hearing Judges

Not great news if you have a Social Security Disability Hearing in Manchester! Manchester NH Social Security Hearing Judges have below average case approval ratings. The national average for case approval rate is 54%, and as you can see from the table below, Manchester NH Judges are below average, namely 52%. Could be better! It appears that Manchester NH has four judges who are below average, and four judges who are above average. Nothing to get excited about, however, the good news is that all but one are over a 40% case approval rate.

This page is for Manchester NH Social Security Hearings, in other words, for people who live in or near Concord, Keene, Littleton, Manchester, Nashua, Burlington VT, Montpelier VT, or Rutland VT. For other locations around New Hampshire click on:

• Judge Ratings for Springfield MA
• Judge Ratings for Boston MA 
• ‘Judge Ratings for Lawrence MA

Judge Ratings for Manchester NH Social Security Hearings

Are you wondering if you got a good judge for your Manchester NH Social Security Hearing for Disability or SSI scheduled in the Office of Hearing Operations (OHO)? Do you want to know everything you can about the where, why and how of the hearing itself? You’re not alone, most of our clients desperately want to know every detail of their Disability Hearing so that they have the best chance of winning. You might have a hearing in Manchester NH if you have a Social Security Disability/SSI appeal and live in or near Concord, Keene, Littleton, Manchester, Nashua, Burlington VT, Montpelier VT, or Rutland VT. The Manchester NH Social Security Hearing office is on Elm Street right on the Merrimack River next to the Amoskeag Falls and the National Guard Armory. You can find the name of your judge on a hearing scheduled notice or call the number for the hearing office (at the bottom of this page). Here are all the judges’ statistics and other information that you need, and if you’re looking for a Disability Lawyer serving Manchester NH, don’t hesitate to call us or email us and we will evaluate your case for free.

Judges’ Statistics

The following table is up to date as of October 2024:

Social Security Disability Hearing Tip: When you get a hearing date, you will receive a hearing notice from the Judge who has been given your claim to adjudicate. Look for the signature line of the letter with the hearing date and time. Your judge will have signed it, electronically of course. You are likely stuck with the Judge that is assigned to your case, even if the case is postponed. The only time you switch judges is when the original judge has a conflict or when you’ve won two appeals and gotten two remands for new hearings. A Disability Lawyer serving Manchester NH, like us, can explain in more detail how judges get assigned and how the decision process should go. Contact us for a free consultation or more information.

Case Approval Rates of Manchester NH Social Security Hearing Judges

The national average for case approval rate is 54%, and Manchester NH Judges are at 52%. Still, many people have really good experiences, because some of the judges and staff genuinely care about other people. And many have very bad experiences in Manchester because it still is Social Security, run by the government, which is a complete and utter mess. The judges there are doing the best they can. Do they get decisions wrong sometimes? Of course, they are human. Only those with very low case approval rates might be called biased.

For example, for Manchester NH Social Security hearings, Administrative Law Judge Paul Martin has the lowest case approval rate at 26%. That is very low but probably within the bounds of reason. Judge Martin could very possibly be very skeptical or he could have a negative attitude towards claimants of disability benefits. That would be unfortunate but some judges do let their personal feelings or political beliefs color their judgment. There is no way to tell whether Judge Martin falls into that category, but we hope that he doesn’t. 

We can also see from the table that six of the Judges are at 56% or below, so there is a very good chance you will draw one of these judges. If you draw a judge with at or below 56% approval rate then you will need a decent case to win, usually with lots of medical evidence and an opinion from a medical expert (like your doctor) that you are disabled. Make sure you get all of your relevant medical records and try to get a supporting letter from your doctor. To win with a judge at or under 56%, if you’re under age 50 you probably have to have a condition that stops you from working at all (not just part time) or being at least age 50 or over with a physical condition that prevents the ability to stand and walk for a prolonged period of time. In both cases, you may lose if you have sedentary work experience. Click here to get more information about the rules, or a Disability Lawyer serving Manchester NH, like us, can give you the information you need. Click here for a free case evaluation.

Where Will My Hearing Be Held?

Most hearings will be held by phone, the judge’s clerk will call your phone and place you in a conference call. The whole hearing will be held via conference call, it’s actually very efficient. If you have a lawyer the evidence is submitted electronically before the hearing.

If you don’t have a lawyer you’ll have to bring your evidence to the hearing office or mail it in. You can request an in-person hearing, but we don’t advise it. If you do have a in-person hearing or need to submit evidence, check the SSA hearing office locator website. The Manchester NH Social Security Hearing office is in Suite 303 of 1750 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03104. You’ll go through the metal detectors – don’t bring any weapons, even a pocket knife, or they won’t let you in. Then check in with the staff and wait to be called for your hearing. If you need to reach the Manchester NH Social Security hearing office, also known as the Office of Hearing Operations, call (888) 318-7973.

What should I do if I need help with my hearing?

If you do not have a lawyer yet, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) presiding over your case will almost always give you a postponement to try to get a lawyer. These hearings are very difficult without a lawyer, and the ALJs rarely get the evidence they need unless a lawyer is involved. If you need a Disability Lawyer serving Manchester NH, no matter what stage your case is in, call us or email us and we will evaluate your case for free.