Approval rates
To understand how John Benson compares to his peers, you can look at his 50% approval rate since 2016 against the 41% to 73% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA office. In the most recent reporting period, his 54% approval rate sits 7 points lower than the office average of 61%. These figures are based on a volume of 3,342 decisions on record.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Benson's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
Since 2016, John Benson has maintained a varied approval pattern. After a period of lower approval rates around 2018, the data shows a gradual upward trend, peaking in 2024 before reaching 54% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. Your outcome depends on the specific medical evidence you present.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Benson's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Lawrence MA hearing office
The Lawrence MA hearing office serves you throughout the region. With a bench of 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains an overall latest-period approval rate of 61%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Lawrence MA
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA office. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 41% to 73% since 2016.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
John Benson has a 50% approval rate on record since 2016, which falls within the 41% to 73% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for John Benson has fluctuated over time, showing an upward trend from 46% in 2016 to 54% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your judge assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you may face during the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your specific medical evidence and how it aligns with SSA regulations are the most important factors in your case, and an attorney can help you present your evidence effectively.
