Approval rates
When evaluating your claim, it is helpful to look at how the approval rate compares to broader benchmarks. Currently, this judge maintains a lifetime approval rate of 50% based on 15,128 lifetime decisions. This sits 3 percentage points above the latest Richmond office average of 47%, but remains 8 points below the national average of 58%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Kennedy'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
Over a 7-year tenure, this judge has presided over 15,128 lifetime decisions, showing a distinct shift in recent years. While early years saw approval rates fluctuating, the data indicates a notable increase in approvals during the most recent reporting periods. These patterns reflect historical data and do not guarantee how your specific case will be decided.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kennedy'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 Kennedy? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Richmond hearing office
The Richmond Hearing Office serves a large population across Virginia, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office handles a diverse caseload. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can visit the Richmond Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the assignment process is essentially random. At the Richmond Hearing Office, the bench of 6 judges maintains lifetime approval rates ranging from 18% to 57%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence remains the most effective way to prepare.
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.