Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While Mark A. Clayton has a 35% approval rate on record since 2016, the broader bench at this office shows a range of 25% to 60%. In the most recent reporting period, the judge maintained a 41% approval rate, which is 1 percentage point higher than the office-wide average of 40%. These figures are based on a volume of 3,444 decisions on record since 2016. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Clayton'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, Mark A. Clayton has issued 3,444 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuation, with rates ranging from a low of 27% in 2020 to a high of 43% in 2023. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows an approval rate of 41%. This latest period reflects a continuation of the variance observed over the last decade. These patterns suggest that your case outcome is influenced by the specific evidence and medical documentation you present in your file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Clayton'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 Springfield MO hearing office
Mark A. Clayton's most recent office on record is the Springfield MO hearing office, which serves you across Missouri. This office includes a bench of 10 judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 40%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment. For more information, see the Springfield MO Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Springfield MO
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 25% to 60% on their since-2016 records. Four of these judges decided cases here in the latest file period ending July 2026. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Mark A. Clayton's 35% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 25% to 60% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your evidence for this specific bench.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 30% in 2016 and reaching 41% in the most recent partial year of 2026. These shifts often reflect changes in case complexity or the specific evidence you provide. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. Having a qualified attorney can help you organize your records and prepare for the questions you may face.
The approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA requirements. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
