Approval rates
To understand how Diana Erickson compares to peers, we look at both long-term and recent data. Her 63% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 33% to 77% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Kansas City. In the most recent reporting period, her 84% approval rate compares to an office rate of 56%, a state rate of 51%, and a national rate of 58%. These figures reflect past decisions rather than future 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 Erickson'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, Diana Erickson has issued 3,592 decisions. Her yearly approval trend has shown movement, with a recent shift toward higher approval rates. While her early record saw rates in the 50% to 60% range, the latest fiscal year-to-date data shows an 84% approval rate. This recent uptick reflects a departure from her long-term average, which may be influenced by changes in case evidence or the specific mix of claims heard.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Erickson'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
Diana Erickson's most recent office on record is the Kansas City Hearing Office, which serves you and other claimants across Missouri and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 56%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kansas City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Kansas City Hearing Office, there are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 12 of whom decided cases in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging 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
Diana Erickson's 63% approval rate since 2016 is positioned within the 33% to 77% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kansas City Hearing Office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively regardless of which judge is assigned.
Yes, the data shows a trend of increasing approval rates over time. While her rate was 57% in 2016, it has risen to 84% in the most recent partial fiscal year. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these 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. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of the judge assigned to your case.
Approval rates are statistical summaries of past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical records and testimony. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to build a strong case.
