Approval rates
The approval rate for Scot Gulick is based on 3,063 lifetime decisions. Within the Kansas City hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the 17 judges on record range from 33% to 77%. Comparing these figures helps you understand the local judicial environment. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Gulick. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Gulick'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 trend for Scot Gulick has varied, moving from 39% in 2016 and 47% in 2017 to a low of 22% in 2021, with a recent rate of 34% in 2025. This pattern reflects the evolving nature of the cases heard in the Kansas City office. The latest period data suggests a shift from the lower approval years, though the lifetime average remains the primary indicator of his long-term decision-making history.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gulick'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
The Kansas City hearing office serves you throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 17 judges on record. You can expect a formal process where the quality of your medical documentation is critical to the outcome. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 56%. You can see the Kansas City hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Scot Gulick is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at this office since 2016, with 12 judges currently reporting in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 33% to 77% on a lifetime basis.
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
Scot Gulick has a lifetime approval rate of 35%, which sits within the broader office range of 33% to 77%. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you understand how to present your specific medical evidence to this judge.
Yes, the data shows fluctuations in his approval rate, ranging from a high of 47% in 2017 to 22% in 2021, with a recent rate of 34% in 2025. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing by analyzing these trends and strengthening your case file.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process random. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. Having an attorney can help you navigate the questioning and ensure your SSDI claim is clearly articulated.
The 35% lifetime approval rate for Scot Gulick is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your success depends on the strength of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your case is ready for the hearing.