Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. While you see an overall approval rate of 49% since 2016, recent performance shows a 53% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 13 percentage points above the office average of 40%. These figures are based on 4,029 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Franklin'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
The approval rate for Perry L. Franklin has fluctuated since 2016. After starting at 43% in 2016, the rate experienced variance before reaching 60% in 2024. The latest period reflects a 53% approval rate in 2026. This trend shows that recent decisions have moved toward a higher frequency of favorable outcomes compared to the start of the record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Franklin'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
Perry L. Franklin's most recent office on record is the Springfield MO hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 10 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 40%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Springfield MO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench range from 25% to 60% on their since-2016 records.
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
Judge Franklin has an approval rate of 49% on record since 2016, which sits within the 25% to 60% range of the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. In the latest reporting period, Franklin's 53% approval rate is 13 percentage points higher than the office average of 40%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has shifted over time. It began at 43% in 2016 and reached a peak of 60% in 2024, before settling at 53% in the latest partial year of 2026. Understanding these trends can be helpful when preparing your case, and an attorney can help you evaluate how these patterns might impact your strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is best to focus on building a strong case for any judge, and an attorney can help you prepare for that process.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of how a judge will rule on your specific claim. While Judge Franklin has approved 49% of cases since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively for your hearing.
