Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your since-2016 approval rate of 45% provides a long-term view, the latest-period approval rate of 48% offers a more current snapshot. This latest-period rate sits 5 percentage points below the Louisville office average of 53%, 3 points below the Kentucky state average of 51%, and 10 points below the national average of 58%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than individual hearing outcomes.
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 Collins'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
Your approval rate has fluctuated since 2016, starting at 38% and reaching 48% in the most recent fiscal year to date. With 3,940 total decisions on record, you have maintained a consistent volume of activity. The latest-period approval rate of 48% is slightly higher than your overall average on record, reflecting a recent shift in outcomes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Collins'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 Louisville hearing office
Steven Collins's most recent office on record is the Louisville hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants throughout Kentucky and parts of the surrounding region, maintaining a bench of 13 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 53%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Louisville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assigned judge is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 7 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 43% to 75% 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
Judge Collins has an approval rate of 45% on record since 2016, while the range for the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Louisville is 43% to 75%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge you draw.
Your approval rate has varied over time, moving from 38% in 2016 to 48% in the most recent fiscal year to date. These trends are based on 3,940 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to the specific evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. Working with an attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions you may face.
