Approval rates
Judge Jensen maintains a lifetime approval rate of 68%, which compares favorably against the Salt Lake City office average of 54% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 909 lifetime decisions, providing a clear view of historical decision-making. Comparing these rates helps you understand the local landscape of your disability claim.
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 Jensen'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
During your tenure, Judge Jensen has demonstrated a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims. With 909 lifetime decisions recorded, the data shows a stable pattern of approval that remains well above the local and national benchmarks. This consistency suggests a predictable approach to evidence review.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Jensen'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 Jensen? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Salt Lake City hearing office
The Salt Lake City Hearing Office serves a broad population across Utah, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office currently reports an average approval rate of 54%. You can expect a formal process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Salt Lake City office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 28% to 72%. While these differences exist, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent regardless of the judge 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.