Approval rates
Joan H. Deans has an overall approval rate of 44% since 2016. In the latest reporting period, her approval rate was 52%, which is 4 percentage points below the Kansas City office average of 56%. With 3,962 decisions on record, these figures reflect past performance rather than a prediction for your specific hearing.
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 Deans'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
The approval rate for Joan H. Deans has fluctuated since 2016. After starting at 42% in 2016, the rate reached a low of 38% in 2020 and 2021 before rising to 52% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. These shifts highlight how outcomes can vary based on the evidence presented in your claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Deans'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 Kansas City hearing office
Joan H. Deans' most recent office on record is the Kansas City hearing office, as of July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges who manage disability claims. You can view the Kansas City hearing office page for more information on the local bench.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kansas City
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kansas City hearing office. Approval rates among this bench range from 33% to 77% 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
Joan H. Deans has a latest-period approval rate of 52%, which is 4 percentage points lower than the Kansas City office average of 56%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Joan H. Deans has fluctuated over time, moving from 42% in 2016 to 52% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated algorithm to distribute cases, ensuring that assignments remain random and impartial.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony to determine if you meet the criteria for disability. An attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented effectively.
The 44% approval rate for Joan H. Deans since 2016 is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of your outcome. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with the standards this judge typically applies.
