Approval rates
Judge Erickson maintains a lifetime approval rate of 61%, which is higher than the 54% average seen across the Kansas City Hearing Office. In the most recent reporting period, her approval rate reached 72%, outperforming the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 20,753 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical baseline. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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
Over her 10-year tenure, Judge Erickson has demonstrated a shifting approval pattern. While her early years showed rates in the 50% to 60% range, recent data indicates an increase in favorable outcomes, with rates holding at 72% to 75% since 2023. This recent trend represents a departure from her earlier decision-making period. The current pattern suggests a more claimant-favorable environment than in previous years.
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.
Hearing with Judge Erickson? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Kansas City hearing office
The Kansas City (Missouri) Hearing Office serves a broad population across the region, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office handles a diverse caseload that requires careful navigation of Social Security regulations. The office-wide latest approval rate is 54%, which serves as a benchmark for local proceedings. You can visit the Kansas City (Missouri) Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Kansas City Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 61%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence. The guidance for your hearing remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.