Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Amy Benton's 49% approval rate is measured against the NHC St Louis office rate of 43%, the Missouri state rate of 51%, and the national average of 58%. These figures rely on a sample of 78 decisions.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Judge Benton made fewer than 100 decisions in the last 12 months, too few for a fair side-by-side, so the judge comparison tool leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Benton'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 January 2016, Amy Benton has issued 3,734 decisions, with an overall approval rate of 46%. The yearly approval trend has fluctuated, reaching a high of 53% in 2023 and a low of 37% in 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Benton'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 NHC St Louis hearing office
The NHC St Louis is the most recent office on record for Amy Benton, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. The office's approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, was 43%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC St Louis
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 32% to 50% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Amy Benton's 49% approval rate sits above the 43% average for the NHC St Louis office. Among the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 32% to 50% during this same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Amy Benton's approval rate has varied over the years, with an overall rate of 46% across 3,734 decisions since 2016. While the rate was 37% in 2016, it reached 53% in 2023 before settling at 49% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, which ensures that cases are distributed randomly. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence in your file, including medical records and testimony. You may be asked questions about your work history and how your medical condition limits your ability to perform daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
