Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent periods to ensure accuracy. While the office-wide approval rate for the latest period is 57%, Mary Jane Pelton's latest-period rate is 47%, which is 10 percentage points lower than the office average. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable basis for comparison.
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 Pelton'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 2023, Mary Jane Pelton has maintained a steady approval pattern across 1,453 decisions on record. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates moving from 46% in 2023 to 51% in 2024, followed by 44% in 2025 and 46% in 2026 fiscal year to date. The latest period rate of 47% remains consistent with this overall average. This pattern suggests that the judge's approach to evidence and testimony has remained relatively stable over the recent reporting window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pelton'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 Syracuse hearing office
Mary Jane Pelton's most recent office on record is the Syracuse hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 13 judges. The office-wide approval rate for the latest period is 57%, which provides a broader context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 7 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among these peers range from 40% to 86% on their records.
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
Mary Jane Pelton has a 47% approval rate since 2023, while the Syracuse office's latest-period approval rate is 57%. Because approval rates vary across the 13 judges at this office, an attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Mary Jane Pelton has remained relatively steady, fluctuating between 44% and 51% annually since 2023. This consistency suggests a stable approach to case evaluation. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, it is vital to have your case prepared for any outcome. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
The 47% approval rate for Mary Jane Pelton represents a statistical pattern from past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical documentation is the most important factor. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence before your hearing date.
