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Springfield MO Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Missouri · SSA Region 07

Approval Rate

39.7%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

7 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

246 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,621

awaiting hearing

ALJs

4

active judges

Springfield MO 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
Perry Franklin 52.4% 47.6% 44.1% 431 501
Mary Leary 45.8% 54.2% 33.3% 72 86
Mark Clayton 39.4% 60.6% 35.3% 434 498
Walter Hellums 27.8% 72.2% 21.5% 507 579

Former Judges at Springfield MO

These judges have no recorded decisions at Springfield MO 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
James F Gillet December 2023 44.8% 58
Robert A Lynch December 2023 60.5% 38

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 MO Social Security Hearing Office

The Springfield MO hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Missouri. This office is in SSA Region 07 and currently has 4 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 39.7%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. Approval rates are influenced by many factors including case mix, quality of representation, and individual judge decision-making patterns. Judge approval rates at this office range from 27.8% to 52.4%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 7 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 246 days. There are currently 1,621 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 405 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 33.5%. A fully favorable decision awards benefits from the claimant's requested onset date, while a partially favorable decision may set a later onset date. Both count toward the overall approval rate.

How to Interpret Springfield MO Hearing Office Data

Springfield MO 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 7 months and 246 days average processing time, claimants at Springfield MO can expect a total timeline of roughly 15 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Springfield MO have collectively issued 1,444 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 361 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 72 to 507 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Springfield MO Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Springfield MO?
The average ALJ approval rate at Springfield MO is 39.7% 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 27.8% to 52.4%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 33.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Springfield MO?
The Springfield MO office has 4 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 72 to 507 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Springfield MO?
The current average wait time at Springfield MO is 7 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 246 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 15 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.
How is office data calculated?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 7 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Data originates from SSA public use files and is refreshed as new reports are published throughout the fiscal year.
What is the fully favorable rate at Springfield MO?
A fully favorable decision means the claimant is awarded benefits starting from the onset date they originally claimed. A partially favorable decision also awards benefits, but may set a later onset date than requested. Both types count toward the overall approval rate. The distinction is important because onset date determines how far back retroactive benefits extend. At Springfield MO, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 33.5%.
How does Springfield MO compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 5 hearing offices in Missouri, Springfield MO has the lowest approval rate at 39.7%. In terms of wait time, Springfield MO ranks 1 of 5 (7 months). Visit the Missouri overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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