Springfield MO Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Missouri · SSA Region 07
Approval Rate
39.9%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
6 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
233 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
839
awaiting hearing
ALJs
6
active judges
Springfield MO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry L Franklin | 53.6% | 46.4% | 46.9% | 399 | 460 |
| Mary J Leary | 45.3% | 54.7% | 34% | 53 | 69 |
| Jo Ann L Draper | 42.9% | 57.1% | 35.7% | 14 | 15 |
| Mark A Clayton | 36.7% | 63.3% | 32.1% | 371 | 427 |
| Walter R Hellums | 30.8% | 69.2% | 24.6% | 422 | 491 |
| David G Buell | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1 |
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 6 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 39.9%, which is below the national average of 58.3%. 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 30.8% to 53.6%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 6 months, which is notably shorter than the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 233 days. There are currently 839 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 140 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 34.7%. 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 6 months and 233 days average processing time, claimants at Springfield MO can expect a total timeline of roughly 14 months from hearing request to decision. The faster-than-average processing at this office means cases may move through the system more quickly.
Judges at Springfield MO have collectively issued 1,259 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 210 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 14 to 422 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Springfield MO Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Springfield MO?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 30.8% to 53.6%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 34.7%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Springfield MO?
How long is the wait time at Springfield MO?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 14 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.