Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. Amanda Knapp's 49% approval rate on record since 2017 is evaluated against the 43% to 80% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Akron OH hearing office. These figures are derived from hundreds of decisions, providing a look at past outcomes. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Knapp. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Knapp'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
Amanda Knapp's approval rate has shown a shift over the period from 2017 to 2022. After starting at 44% in 2018, the rate rose to 46% in 2019 and reached 52% in 2020 and 2021. This trend indicates a period of increased allowance rates before the record concluded in 2022. Such patterns often reflect changes in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Knapp'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 Akron OH hearing office
Amanda Knapp's most recent office on record is the Akron OH hearing office, where decisions were logged through September 2022. This office serves you and other claimants across the region and is staffed by a bench of 13 judges with varying approval patterns. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Akron OH
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Akron OH hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 43% to 80%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence.
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
Amanda Knapp's 49% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the 43% to 80% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Akron OH hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this office.
Yes, the data shows a trend where the approval rate moved from 44% in 2018 to 52% in 2021. Understanding these historical patterns is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony from you and potentially a vocational or medical expert. An attorney can help you prepare for the questions you will face during this process.
The 49% approval rate on record since 2017 describes Amanda Knapp's past decisions, not the outcome of your specific case. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
