Judge Ratings for Springfield MA Social Security Hearings (Oct 2024)

The Quality of Springfield MA Social Security Hearing Judges
Not great news if you have a Social Security Disability Hearing in Springfield! Springfield MA 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, Springfield MA Judges are below average, namely 47%. Could be better! It appears that all five of the Springfield MA judges that we count are below average, however, the good news is that they are all at or over 40%. Note: We don’t count the judges with less than 50 dispositions because it is a small sample size or because the Judge primarily does hearings in another hearing office.
This page is for Springfield MA Social Security Hearings, in other words, for people who live in or near Greenfield, Holyoke, North Adams, Pittsfield, Springfield, or Worcester. For other locations in Massachusetts click on:
Judge Ratings for Springfield MA Social Security Hearings
Are you wondering if you got a good judge for your Springfield MA 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 Springfield MA if you have a Social Security Disability/SSI appeal and live in or near Greenfield, Holyoke, North Adams, Pittsfield, Springfield, or Worcester. The Springfield MA Social Security Hearing office is on South Main Street off of either exit 6 or exit 5B on Route 91 about a block away from City Hall. 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 Springfield MA, 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:
Judge | Percent Approved | Total Dispositions |
Bauer, Edward T | 52% | 368 |
Danialzadeh, Payam | 49% | 286 |
Ferrer, Victoria A | 45% | 223 |
Griswold, Kim K | 42% | 257 |
Masengill, Addison C | 46% | 318 |
Molleur, John T | 13% | 8 |
Totals | 47% | 1460 |
Social Security Disability Hearing Tip:If your case gets denied by the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) it is called an Unfavorable Decision, in other words the ALJ found you not disabled. If the ALJ finds you disabled, but disagrees with your Alleged Disability Onset date (the date when you claim you became disabled), it is called a Partially Favorable Decision. If the ALJ approves your case, or grants a Fully Favorable, then he or she has found you disabled and will award you all of the back pay you requested (provided you meet all of the non-medical program rules). A Disability Lawyer serving Springfield MA, like us, can explain in more detail how the ALJ’s decision impacts your case and how a lawyer can help prepare you for the hearing. Contact us for a free consultation or more information.
Case Approval Rates of Springfield MA Social Security Hearing Judges
The national average for case approval rate is 54%, and Springfield MA Judges are at 47%. 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 Springfield 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 Springfield MA Social Security hearings, Administrative Law Judge Kim Griswold has the lowest case approval rate at 42%. That is actually not very low and surely within the bounds of reason. Judge Griswold could very possibly be just a little skeptical, and if so, that is hard to fault. Reasonable minds can differ sometimes. Note: We don’t count the judges with less than 50 dispositions because it is a small sample size and could be misleading. Or the Judge primarily does hearings in another hearing office. For example, Judge John Molleur appears to only have 8 dispositions (decisions plus dismissals) in Springfield but has over 200 dispositions in New Haven, CT, where he usually hears cases and has a 29% case approval rate.
We can also see from the table that all of the Judges are below average, so there is a very good chance you will draw one of these judges, unless you get a visiting judge who’s just filling in. If you draw a judge with a below average 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 below average, 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 Springfield MA, 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 Springfield MA Social Security Hearing office is in Suite 450, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103. 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 Springfield MA Social Security hearing office, also known as the Office of Hearing Operations, call (866) 964-5058.
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 Springfield MA, no matter what stage your case is in, call us or email us and we will evaluate your case for free.