Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyers

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If you are thinking about applying for Social Security disability in Massachusetts, then you should weigh the benefits of hiring an attorney. An experienced Social Security disability lawyer can significantly improve the odds that your case will be approved.

Social Security data from Massachusetts reveals that 44% of the Social Security disability claims are denied on average. Of course, most applicants that have been denied on their first attempt appeal the decision. However, the chances of approval are even worse in the first phase of the appeals process, which is formally known as reconsideration.

The vast majority of claimants will have to wait until their hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) to have a significant chance of approval.

Massachusetts has 3 Hearing Offices where you can go to have your case heard by an ALJ. They are listed in the above table.

Most successful Social Security disability claims are approved during the hearing, largely because the ALJs have more leeway in the way they handle claims and can actually see and hear you while you present evidence of your disability.

Overall, 39% of Massachusetts disability hearings result in an disability benefits being awarded.

On average, Massachusetts residents wait 396 days for their hearing before an ALJ. Some Hearing Offices are more favorable than others.

Disability Statistics for Massachusetts
Office Judges Avg. Hearing Wait Time Average Processing Time Avg. Dispositions Per Day Per ALJ Cases Dismissed Cases Approved Cases Denied
Lawrence 13 14 months 463 days 1.84 15% 46% 39%
Boston 13 8 months 308 days 1.60 24% 23% 54%
Springfield 4 13 months 417 days 1.91 14% 47% 39%
All Massachusetts 0 12 months 132 days 1.78 18% 39% 44%
All Administrative Law Judges in Massachusetts
Judge City of Operation Full Favorable Part Favorable Total ALJ Dispositions Total Awards Total Decisions Total Denials Total Dispositions
Robert Baker Jr Lawrence 45 15 128 60 94 34 128
Gary Ball Lawrence 39 8 107 47 71 24 107
Michael P Breton Springfield 41 9 121 50 95 45 121
Noran J Camp Boston 38 9 89 47 79 32 89
Tierney Carlos Lawrence 46 16 135 62 107 45 135
Michelle Crawford Lawrence 46 8 113 54 81 27 113
Daniel J Driscoll Boston 37 2 109 39 86 47 109
Donna M Edwards Lawrence 50 6 113 56 83 27 113
Milagros Farnes Lawrence 74 2 112 76 91 15 112
Mary Forrest-Doyle Lawrence 66 13 107 79 92 13 107
Stephen C Fulton Boston 24 4 77 28 57 29 77
Kim K Griswold Springfield 23 7 115 30 84 54 115
L. Harris Lawrence 41 0 76 41 51 10 76
Henry J Hogan Boston 24 2 61 26 53 27 61
Dierdra Howard Lawrence 50 6 130 56 91 35 130
Francis Hurley Boston 34 7 91 41 56 15 91
Robert J Kelly Boston 45 2 108 47 80 33 108
Alexander Klibaner Boston 37 4 102 41 77 36 102
Peter J Martinelli Springfield 19 3 67 22 53 31 67
Addison C Masengill Springfield 46 11 147 57 107 50 147
Donald K Neely Lawrence 49 12 125 61 93 32 125
Melvin G Olmscheid Lawrence 46 7 105 53 81 28 105
James H Packer Boston 57 16 116 73 96 23 116
William Ramsey Boston 29 7 87 36 66 30 87
Sujata Rodgers Boston 18 9 117 27 88 61 117
William T Ross Boston 30 9 95 39 64 25 95
Carol A Sax Boston 52 6 92 58 75 17 92
Leisha Self Lawrence 44 3 100 47 67 20 100
Sean Teehan Boston 14 4 84 18 60 42 84
Janice Ulan Lawrence 23 5 58 28 39 11 57
View Social Security Offices in Massachusetts