Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The most relevant comparison for your hearing is the range of outcomes among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seattle hearing office. These judges show a wide variance in their since-2016 records, ranging from 21% to 93%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Boyce. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Boyce'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, the approval rate for Kimberly Boyce has shown a gradual upward trend. Starting at 39% in 2016, the rate dipped slightly in 2017 before climbing to 48% by 2020. This pattern across 1,438 decisions on record indicates a shift in outcomes over the four-year window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Boyce'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 Seattle hearing office
Kimberly Boyce's most recent office on record is the Seattle hearing office, with decisions there through September 2020. This office serves you and other claimants across the region and is staffed by a bench of 22 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can see the Seattle hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Seattle
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seattle hearing office, and their approval rates vary significantly from 21% to 93%. Because this assignment process is automated, you have no control over which judge hears your case.
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
Kimberly Boyce has an approval rate of 42% on her record since 2016. Among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seattle hearing office, approval rates range from 21% to 93%. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these local patterns.
Yes, the approval rate for Kimberly Boyce has trended upward over the years on record. It moved from 39% in 2016 to 48% by 2020 across 1,438 decisions. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your own disability claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process essentially random. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare a strong case is the best way to ensure you are ready for any outcome. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
