Official SSA Data

Springfield MA Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Massachusetts · SSA Region 01

Approval Rate

58.1%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

8 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

296 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,321

awaiting hearing

ALJs

7

active judges

Springfield MA ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics

Individual judge statistics for FY 2025. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.

Judge Approval Rate Denial Rate Fully Favorable Total Decisions Dispositions
Joshua Pinkus 66.7% 33.3% 58.1% 129 166
Edward T Bauer 64.5% 35.5% 59% 290 362
Payam Danialzadeh 56.2% 43.8% 47.2% 290 347
Addison C Masengill 55% 45% 46.3% 80 95
Kim K Griswold 52.9% 47.1% 43.9% 255 303
John T Molleur 20% 80% 20% 5 8
William Leland N/A N/A N/A N/A 1

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, 7 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.

The office's average approval rate is 58.1%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 20% to 66.7%, a 47-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 296 days. There are currently 1,321 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 189 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 45.8%. 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

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Springfield MA, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.

With an average wait time of 8 months and 296 days average processing time, claimants at Springfield MA can expect a total timeline of roughly 18 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Springfield MA have collectively issued 1,049 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 150 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 5 to 290 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 58.1% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 20% to 66.7%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 45.8%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Springfield MA?
The Springfield MA office has 7 administrative law judges. Of these, 5 have issued 50 or more decisions in FY 2025. Decision counts range from 5 to 290 in the current fiscal year. 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 8 months. This is comparable to the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 296 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 18 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 45.8%.
How does Springfield MA compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 3 hearing offices in Massachusetts, Springfield MA has the highest approval rate at 58.1%. In terms of wait time, Springfield MA ranks 1 of 3 (8 months). Visit the Massachusetts overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.