Approval rates
The approval rate for Benjamin Burton is 47% across 2,840 decisions on record since December 2017. When compared to the bench at the Kingsport Hearing Office, where approval rates for judges range from 41% to 88% over the same period, this figure provides a baseline for understanding historical decision-making. In the most recent reporting period, Benjamin Burton recorded a 44% approval rate, which sits 12 points below the office average of 56%.
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 Burton'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 December 2017, the approval rate for Benjamin Burton has shown a varied trend. After an initial approval rate of 53% in 2018, the figures fluctuated, reaching 51% in 2023 before settling at 46% during the most recent partial fiscal year. With 2,840 total decisions on record, the data reflects a consistent volume of activity over the years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Burton'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
Benjamin Burton's most recent office on record is the Kingsport Hearing Office. This office is part of a regional network that manages a high volume of disability claims, with a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 56%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport
The Social Security Administration utilizes 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 the Kingsport Hearing Office, 8 of whom decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 41% to 88% on their since-2016 records.
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
Benjamin Burton has an approval rate of 47% on record since December 2017. This sits within the 41% to 88% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kingsport Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Benjamin Burton has fluctuated over the years, starting at 53% in 2018 and reaching 46% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. These variations are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases or evidence presented. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge you might draw. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
The 47% approval rate for Benjamin Burton is a statistical reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well your case is presented. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
