Approval rates
Scott Massengill maintains a 46% approval rate on record since 2017, which sits within the range of 32% to 79% observed among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. In the most recent reporting period, his 42% approval rate trailed the office average of 60% by 18 percentage points.
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 Massengill'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 November 2017, Scott Massengill has issued 2,269 decisions on record. His yearly approval rates were 60% in 2018, 50% in 2019, 48% in 2020, 33% in 2021, 36% in 2022, 40% in 2023, 58% in 2024, 49% in 2025, and 42% in 2026.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Massengill'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore hearing office is the most recent office on record for Scott Massengill. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 60%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. At the Baltimore hearing office, the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one range from 32% to 79% in their approval rates on record since 2016.
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
Scott Massengill has a 46% approval rate on record since 2017, while the bench at the Baltimore office ranges from 32% to 79%. In the latest reporting period, his 42% approval rate was 18 points lower than the office average of 60%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over his 2,269 decisions on record. After reaching 60% in 2018, the rate declined to 33% in 2021 before rising to 58% in 2024 and reaching 42% in 2026. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to distribute cases randomly among available judges. Regardless of the assignment, an attorney can help you build a strong case.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will be present to discuss your functional limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure the judge understands your specific situation.
