Approval rates
The approval rates for Robin J. Barber reflect a career-long pattern of decision-making. While the lifetime rate is 44%, it is helpful to view this alongside the Kingsport office-wide lifetime range of 41% to 88%. These figures are derived from thousands of cases, providing a view of the judge's history.
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 Barber'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 2016, Robin J. Barber has maintained a consistent decision-making pattern across 3,122 lifetime decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates moving from 42% in 2016 to 45% in the most recent reporting period. This stability suggests a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Barber'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 Kingsport hearing office
The Kingsport hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a hub for Social Security Disability Insurance hearings in Tennessee. The office bench consists of 15 judges who manage a high volume of cases. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 56%, providing a broader context for your local hearing environment.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Robin J. Barber is essentially random. There are 15 judges on record at this office since 2016, 8 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 41% to 88% on a lifetime basis.
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
Robin J. Barber's lifetime approval rate of 44% sits within the broader office-wide range of 41% to 88%. While this rate is lower than some peers, every case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence you present. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Robin J. Barber has remained relatively steady since 2016, with minor yearly fluctuations. While the rate was 42% in 2016 and 45% in the most recent period, the overall pattern shows consistency. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific disability claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure fairness and efficiency. Because you cannot select your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions and procedures you will encounter at your hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical documentation and how well you demonstrate your inability to perform substantial gainful activity. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.