Approval rates
You can evaluate Thomas W. Springer's 70% approval rate against the range of 50% to 78% seen among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is Madison. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from over 1,000 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Springer. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Springer'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
Thomas W. Springer's approval rate shifted during the 2016 to 2018 data window. After a 65% approval rate in 2016, the figures rose to 73% in 2017 and remained at 73% through the final months of the record in 2018. With 1,023 total decisions on record, this trend reflects a consistent approach during the time at the Madison office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Springer'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 Madison hearing office
Thomas W. Springer's most recent office on record is the Madison hearing office, with decisions there through September 2018. This office serves the region through a bench of 8 judges. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Madison
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is Madison. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 50% to 78% since 2016. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Thomas W. Springer has a 70% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 50% to 78% range established by the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is Madison. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Thomas W. Springer rose from 65% in 2016 to 73% in 2017 and 2018. This indicates a steady pattern over the 1,023 decisions on record. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
Approval rates are based on past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your limitations. An attorney can help you build a stronger case regardless of the judge's historical rate.
