Approval rates
Evaluating your approval rate requires looking at the broader context of your hearing office. While Robin J. Barber maintains a 44% approval rate since 2016, the bench at this office shows a wide range of outcomes, from 41% to 88%. In the most recent reporting period, Robin J. Barber's 45% approval rate sits 11 points below the office average of 56%. These figures are based on thousands of decisions, providing a stable, data-driven look at past trends.
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 January 2016, Robin J. Barber has issued 3,122 decisions. The yearly approval trend has fluctuated, reaching a high of 54% in 2018 and 38% in 2025. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate of 45% shows a shift compared to the previous year. This pattern suggests that while approval rates can shift, your outcome depends on the specific evidence presented in your case.
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 and other claimants across Tennessee and the surrounding region. As the judge's most recent office on record as of July 2026, it is home to a bench of 15 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 56%, which provides a benchmark for the local hearing environment. You can see the Kingsport Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Because approval rates across this bench vary significantly, from 41% to 88%, understanding the office-wide environment is helpful.
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 44% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 41% to 88% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a high of 54% in 2018 to 38% in 2025. The most recent data from 2026 shows a rate of 45%. An attorney can help you understand how these historical trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will participate. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your limitations.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your inability to work. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear before Robin J. Barber.
