Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. The 62% approval rate for David A. Mason Jr. reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which you can compare against the 44% to 74% range observed among the bench at the Livonia MI office over the same period. With over 2,500 decisions, the data provides a stable view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Mason Jr.. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mason Jr.'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 David A. Mason Jr. has shown movement since 2016. While the rate began at 56% in 2016, it reached 69% in 2024 before shifting to 57% in 2025. This pattern across 2,578 decisions suggests that while the judge has maintained a consistent presence, the most recent period reflects a shift from the higher approval levels seen in the preceding three years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mason Jr.'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 Livonia MI hearing office
David A. Mason Jr.'s most recent office on record is the Livonia MI hearing office. This office features a bench of 18 judges who handle a high volume of disability claims. You can expect a formal hearing process where the presentation of medical evidence is critical to your outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Livonia MI office, and their approval rates since 2016 range from 44% to 74%. Because each judge has a unique approach to evidence, understanding the office-wide context is helpful for your preparation.
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
David A. Mason Jr. holds a 62% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 44% to 74% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Livonia MI office. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your specific evidence for this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated. It started at 56% in 2016 and reached a high of 69% in 2024, before recording 57% in 2025. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to the current requirements for your claim.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
The 62% approval rate on record for David A. Mason Jr. is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
