Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to look at how a judge's approval rate compares to their peers. The 33% approval rate for Robert A. Kelly is based on a significant volume of cases, providing a stable look at his decision-making history. The 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kansas City hearing office range from 33% to 77% in their approval rates. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Kelly'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 Robert A. Kelly has shown variation since his record began in 2016. After an initial period with a higher approval rate, the trend has shifted, with the most recent data showing an approval rate of 25% in the latest reporting period. This latest figure sits 31 percentage points lower than the 56% approval rate seen across the Kansas City office during the same timeframe. These fluctuations often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the specific evidence presented in each hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kelly'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 is the most recent office on record for Robert A. Kelly, with his last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 17 judges who handle a wide variety of disability claims. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 56%, providing a benchmark for the local area.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kansas City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kansas City hearing office, and 12 of them decided cases there in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 33% to 77% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Robert A. Kelly has an approval rate of 33% on his record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the range for the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kansas City hearing office, where approval rates vary from 33% to 77%. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Robert A. Kelly has fluctuated over time. While his overall rate since 2016 is 33%, his latest-period approval rate is 25%. Understanding these trends is part of building a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate your options.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome, and an attorney can help you understand your position.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare for the questions you will face.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. Robert A. Kelly's 33% approval rate on record since 2016 is one factor, but the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important element. An attorney can help you determine if your evidence meets the necessary criteria.
