Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Jeffrey Mastin based on his record since 2016. These figures are derived from 2,398 total decisions. The 3 judges who decided cases at this office in the latest SSA file range from 46% to 55% on their own records since 2016.
Judge Mastin is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Mastin isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mastin'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
Jeffrey Mastin has issued 2,398 decisions on record since 2016. His annual approval rate has fluctuated, showing a peak in 2017 followed by a decline in 2021, before reaching 80% in 2025.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mastin'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 Baltimore hearing office
NHC Baltimore is the most recent office on record for Jeffrey Mastin, with his last recorded decision there in September 2025.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Baltimore
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At NHC Baltimore, there are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, though only 3 of them decided cases here in the latest SSA file. These 3 judges range from 46% to 55% on their records 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
Jeffrey Mastin has a 70% approval rate on record since 2016. In comparison, the 3 judges at NHC Baltimore who decided cases in the latest SSA file range from 46% to 55% on their records since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case strategy.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated. Jeffrey Mastin's approval rate was 72% in 2016 and reached 80% in 2025, with various shifts in between. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends on the unique medical evidence and testimony you present. Working with an attorney can help ensure your case is presented as effectively as possible.
