Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 53% approval rate for Mattie Harvin-Woode reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which you can measure against the 40% to 79% range of other judges at the NHC St Louis. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 49% approval rate compares against the office's 45% rate, the state's 51% rate, and the 58% national average.
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 Harvin-Woode'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, Mattie Harvin-Woode has issued 1,774 decisions. The yearly approval trend has fluctuated, with a 51% approval rate recorded for the 2026 fiscal year to date. These figures reflect historical patterns rather than a fixed outcome for your specific hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Harvin-Woode'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 Mattie Harvin-Woode, with recorded decisions through July 2026. This office serves claimants across Missouri and the surrounding region, maintaining a bench of 15 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 45%.
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. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC St Louis. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 40% to 79% on their since-2016 records.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates in SSA's latest period (October 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Harvin-Woode's 49%. All five last decided cases in Missouri.
- 49% Approval rate, latest period Brian M. Steger
- 48% Approval rate, latest period Lori Imsland
- 50% Approval rate, latest period Chandreka Allen
- 48% Approval rate, latest period Trina Mengesha-Brown
- 51% Approval rate, latest period John R. Price
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Harvin-Woode and the three closest side by side →
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
Mattie Harvin-Woode has an approval rate of 53% on record since 2016. This sits within the 40% to 79% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC St Louis. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The approval rate for Mattie Harvin-Woode has fluctuated over the 1,774 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate has seen annual variance, the judge's performance remains a reflection of past case outcomes. An attorney can help you assess how your specific evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures the process remains impartial. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You will typically answer questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Mattie Harvin-Woode has a 53% approval rate on record since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a case that clearly demonstrates your eligibility for benefits.
