Approval rates
Judge Kilroy has maintained a consistent presence on the bench for 8 years, presiding over 14,690 lifetime decisions. His recent approval rate sits 13 percentage points below the national average of 58% and 19 points below the current Billings office average of 64%. These figures provide a statistical snapshot of historical outcomes rather than a guarantee of future results. 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 Kilroy'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 his 8-year tenure, Judge Kilroy has seen his approval rates fluctuate within a stable range. Starting at 49% in 2016, the rate saw a gradual shift before returning to 49% in 2023. This pattern suggests a steady approach to case evaluation, even as the volume of decisions has evolved over time. The recent data reflects a continuation of this long-term trend, indicating that the judge's decision-making process remains consistent.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kilroy'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 Kilroy? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Billings hearing office
The Billings Hearing Office serves you across Montana and the surrounding region. It is home to a dedicated bench of 6 judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 64%, the environment is focused on the rigorous evaluation of medical evidence. You can see the Billings Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Billings Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 31% to 69%. This variance highlights why focusing on your own medical documentation is vital. You can find more information on the Billings Hearing Office page.
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.