Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's since-2016 record shows an approval rate of 46%, data from the latest reporting period shows a 41% approval rate. This latest-period figure sits 2 points below the Little Rock office average of 43%, 6 points below the Arkansas state average of 47%, and 17 points below the national average of 58%.
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 Hansen'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 Dennis Hansen has fluctuated across the 5,883 decisions on record since 2016. After reaching a peak of 52% in 2018, the annual approval rate saw a decline in 2019 before experiencing varied performance in subsequent years. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 41% approval rate, reflecting the variability observed in your judge's recent case history.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hansen'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 Little Rock hearing office
Dennis Hansen's most recent office on record is Little Rock, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across Arkansas. With 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 43%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock. Approval rates among this bench range from 27% to 66% 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
Dennis Hansen has a 46% approval rate on record since 2016, which sits within the 27% to 66% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Dennis Hansen has fluctuated over time, starting at 48% in 2016 and reaching 41% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
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 your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and vocational testimony. An attorney can help you ensure your case is fully documented.
