Official SSA Data

Springfield MA Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Massachusetts · SSA Region 01

Approval Rate

60.7%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

330 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,813

awaiting hearing

ALJs

5

active judges

Springfield MA ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics

Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.

Judge Approval Rate Denial Rate Fully Favorable Total Decisions Dispositions
Joshua Pinkus 68.7% 31.3% 63.6% 198 258
Edward T. Bauer 65.3% 34.7% 58.7% 349 434
Payam Danialzadeh 62.3% 37.7% 58% 355 430
Kim Griswold 53.3% 46.7% 42.2% 289 355
Michael Hellman 41.9% 58.1% 37.5% 136 172

Former Judges at Springfield MA

These judges have no recorded decisions at Springfield MA in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.

Judge Last Decisions Reported Approval Rate Total Decisions
Addison C Masengill December 2024 58.3% 290
Victoria A Ferrer August 2024 55.1% 185

Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.

About the Springfield MA Social Security Hearing Office

The Social Security Administration operates the Springfield MA hearing office in Massachusetts as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 01, 5 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.

The office's average approval rate is 60.7%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Judge approval rates at this office range from 41.9% to 68.7%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 330 days. There are currently 1,813 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 363 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 52.0%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.

How to Interpret Springfield MA Hearing Office Data

Springfield MA shows a moderate degree of variation across its bench, which is common among offices of this size. While all judges apply the same federal disability standards, differences in how they weigh medical evidence, vocational factors, and hearing testimony may contribute to varying outcomes.

With an average wait time of 9 months and 330 days average processing time, claimants at Springfield MA can expect a total timeline of roughly 20 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Springfield MA have collectively issued 1,327 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 265 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 136 to 355 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Springfield MA Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Springfield MA?
The average ALJ approval rate at Springfield MA is 60.7% for the 12 months ending July 2026. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 41.9% to 68.7%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 52.0%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Springfield MA?
The Springfield MA office has 5 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 136 to 355 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Springfield MA?
The current average wait time at Springfield MA is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 330 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 20 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.
How is office data calculated?
Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Source data comes from the Social Security Administration's public reporting on ALJ decisions, which we incorporate as updates are released.
What is the fully favorable rate at Springfield MA?
"Fully favorable" means the claimant receives benefits effective from their originally claimed onset date. "Partially favorable" also grants benefits but may start them from a later date. Both decisions are counted as approvals in the statistics. The onset date difference can significantly affect the total retroactive benefit amount. At Springfield MA, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 52.0%.
How does Springfield MA compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 3 hearing offices in Massachusetts, Springfield MA ranks 2 of 3 with an approval rate of 60.7%. In terms of wait time, Springfield MA ranks 1 of 3 (9 months). Visit the Massachusetts overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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