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Updated June 2026 · SSA Public
State Profile
Mississippi
MS · Region ATL
DDS approval rate
36.4%
-3.4 pts vs national
DDS approval rate
36.4%
National: 39.8%
3-year change
+5.8 pts
Annual receipts
27,354
FY2024
Hearing offices
3
14 ALJs
Latest monthly DDS data · 2026-03
Initial receipts
2,372
Initial determinations
2,203
Initial allowance rate
33.0%
Initial pending
15,978
Recon determinations
1,069
Recon allowance rate
20.5%
Hearing offices in Mississippi
| Office | Rank | Processing days | Pending | Approval | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON MS OHO | 2 | 212 | 2,013 | 54.9% | 5 |
| TUPELO | 11 | 230 | 1,316 | 67.3% | 4 |
| HATTIESBURG | 31 | 238 | 2,907 | 51.0% | 7 |
ALJs in Mississippi (14)
Sorted by approval rate.
| Judge | Office | Approval | Decisions | Awards | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkins, James S | HATTIESBURG | 86.5% | 342 | 296 | |
| Mashburn, Shannon | TUPELO | 76.0% | 308 | 234 | |
| Jones, Brian | HATTIESBURG | 71.4% | 98 | 70 | |
| Stroud, Larry J. | JACKSON MS OHO | 70.4% | 280 | 197 | |
| Lott, Roger | TUPELO | 60.5% | 337 | 204 | |
| DeGruy, Elizabeth | JACKSON MS OHO | 60.5% | 114 | 69 | |
| Hollingsworth, Wendy | HATTIESBURG | 56.7% | 261 | 148 | |
| Brand, Marilyn R. | JACKSON MS OHO | 56.2% | 306 | 172 | |
| Melvin, Patricia | JACKSON MS OHO | 49.3% | 298 | 147 | |
| Grayson, William C | HATTIESBURG | 47.5% | 259 | 123 | |
| Narvil, Jeffrey C. | JACKSON MS OHO | 42.9% | 308 | 132 | |
| Grayson, Lori S | HATTIESBURG | 41.4% | 273 | 113 | |
| Burkes, Felicia | HATTIESBURG | 31.1% | 283 | 88 | |
| Porciello, Laurie H | HATTIESBURG | 22.6% | 230 | 52 |
Next step
Estimate approval odds
See SSA historical approval base rates for a Mississippi claim by condition, age, and stage.