Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Peter Kimball's 53% approval rate since 2016 provides a stable baseline when viewed against the 33% to 68% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Minneapolis office. In the most recent reporting period, Peter Kimball's 55% approval rate sits 3 points above the office average of 52%. These aggregate rates reflect past decisions rather than specific outcomes for your 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 Kimball'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
Since January 2016, Peter Kimball has issued 4,195 decisions. The approval trend has fluctuated over this period, showing variation between a low of 44% in 2020 and a high of 62% in 2023. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 55% approval rate, which is consistent with the historical average on record since 2016. This pattern indicates that while yearly outcomes vary, the decision-making remains within a stable range.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kimball'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 Minneapolis hearing office
Peter Kimball's most recent office on record is the Minneapolis hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the Minnesota region and maintains an office-wide approval rate of 52% for the latest period. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Minneapolis
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Minneapolis office. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 33% to 68% since 2016. Your preparation remains the same 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
Peter Kimball's 53% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 33% to 68% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Minneapolis hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Peter Kimball's approval rate has fluctuated annually, ranging from 44% in 2020 to 62% in 2023. The most recent 2026 rate of 55% remains close to the historical average of 53% on record since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns may impact your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing before any judge assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history, daily limitations, and the severity of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it aligns with SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of the assigned judge.
