Approval rates
Judge Knapp's 47% lifetime approval rate is evaluated against the current landscape of the Akron OH Hearing Office, which maintains a 55% approval rate. Compared to the national average of 58%, her decisions reflect a distinct approach to evidence evaluation. With over 5,852 lifetime decisions, the data provides a clear view of her historical tendencies. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 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
Over her 6 years on the bench, Judge Knapp has demonstrated a consistent decision-making pattern. Her annual approval rates showed a steady upward trend from 41% in 2018 to 52% in 2021, indicating a shift in how she weighed evidence during that period. While the most recent reporting shows a slight adjustment, the overall trajectory remains steady. This pattern suggests a judge who has refined her approach to complex disability claims over time.
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.
Hearing with Judge Knapp? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Akron OH hearing office
The Akron OH Hearing Office serves a diverse population across the region, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide approval rate of 55%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Akron OH 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. Across the Akron OH Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates for the 6-judge bench range from 44% to 60%. This variance highlights why your specific case evidence is the most important factor in your hearing. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.