Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Matthew C. Kawalek's 39% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 21% to 74% range observed among the bench at the Colorado Springs hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, the 34% approval rate aligns with the office-wide average of 34%, while remaining below state and national benchmarks. These figures are derived from a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation for your review.
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 Kawalek'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 Matthew C. Kawalek has shown fluctuations across the 4,253 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate reached a high of 45% in 2017, it has experienced periods of change, including a 34% approval rate in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent figure represents a shift from the 40% observed in 2025. These variations reflect the specific evidence presented in your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kawalek'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 Colorado Springs hearing office
Matthew C. Kawalek's most recent office on record is the Colorado Springs hearing office, as of July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across Colorado as part of a regional network managing disability appeals. With a bench of 10 judges, the office maintains an office-wide approval rate of 34% for the latest reporting period. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Colorado Springs
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assigned judge is essentially random. Within the Colorado Springs hearing office, there are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 21% to 74% since 2016. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Matthew C. Kawalek's 39% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 21% to 74% range of the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Colorado Springs. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a low of 33% in 2020 to a high of 45% in 2017. The most recent partial data from 2026 shows a 34% approval rate. 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 uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, which ensures the process remains impartial. An attorney can help you navigate the hearing process regardless of your assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked about your daily activities and how your condition limits your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The 39% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past performance, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a case that meets the specific criteria for disability.
