Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While the judge's overall approval rate since 2016 is 37%, recent performance can differ from this long-term average. We evaluate these figures against the broader bench at the Des Moines hearing office, where peers range from 37% to 70% on their records since 2016.
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 Fields'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 2016, the approval rate for Kim A. Fields has fluctuated. After reaching 47% in 2017, the rate declined to 22% in 2023. More recently, the data shows an uptick, with the 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate reaching 41%. This recent period reflects a departure from the lower approval rates seen in the middle of the record window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fields'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 Des Moines hearing office
Kim A. Fields' most recent office on record is the Des Moines hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants across Iowa and the surrounding region, maintaining a bench of 10 judges on record. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 53%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Des Moines
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assigned judge is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 7 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 37% to 70% on their records since 2016.
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
Kim A. Fields has an approval rate of 37% on record since 2016. This is within the 37% to 70% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Des Moines. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Kim A. Fields has fluctuated over the years. It moved from 38% in 2016 to a low of 22% in 2023, before rising to 41% in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. Understanding these trends is one part of building a strong case with the help of an attorney.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that assignments are random. Because you cannot select your judge, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence for your disability claim. You will likely answer questions about your medical history and work limitations under oath. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Kim A. Fields has an approval rate of 37% since 2016, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
