Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Lantz McClain based on 2,392 decisions on record since 2016. These figures provide a statistical overview of past performance at the Tulsa Hearing Office. The data is derived from official Social Security Administration records to help you understand the historical context of your hearing.
Judge McClain 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 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge McClain 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 McClain'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
Lantz McClain decided 2,392 cases between 2016 and 2020. The approval rate was 39% in 2016, 41% in 2017, 40% in 2018, 38% in 2019, and 30% in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McClain'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 Tulsa hearing office
Lantz McClain's most recent office on record is the Tulsa Hearing Office, which serves the state of Oklahoma. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where evidence is reviewed to determine your eligibility for SSDI.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. The 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 43% to 80% on their since-2016 records. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one.
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
Lantz McClain has a 38% approval rate on record since 2016. Among the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 43% to 80% on their since-2016 records. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Lantz McClain's approval rate was 39% in 2016 and reached 30% in 2020. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will have the opportunity to explain how your condition impacts your ability to work. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the hearing process.
