Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While you see a 55% approval rate for Kelli J. Kleeb since 2017, her latest-period approval rate is 59%. This compares to a 70% approval rate for the Seven Fields office during the same recent period. With 3,443 decisions on record, the data provides a stable view of past patterns.
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 Kleeb'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 Kelli J. Kleeb has shifted across the 3,443 decisions on record since 2017. After a period of lower approval rates between 2019 and 2021, the trend saw a rise starting in 2023, where rates climbed above 60%. The most recent data from 2026 shows a rate of 59%, which remains above your long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kleeb'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 Seven Fields hearing office
Kelli J. Kleeb's most recent office on record is the Seven Fields hearing office. This office is part of a regional network handling disability claims. With 10 judges on the bench, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 70%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary factor in your outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Seven Fields
SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seven Fields office, 6 of whom decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 33% to 72% on their records since 2016.
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
Kelli J. Kleeb's 55% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the broader range of 33% to 72% seen among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Seven Fields. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated. After reaching a low of 45% in 2019, the approval rate rose to 63% in 2024 before settling at 59% in the most recent 2026 data. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific disability claim.
No. SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but you can prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards required for a favorable decision. An attorney can help you prepare for this process.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. Because the process is complex, having an attorney to organize your evidence and prepare you for questioning is often beneficial.
