Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While Henry Koltys maintains a 57% approval rate since 2016, his latest-period approval rate of 47% sits below the Santa Barbara office average of 69%. These figures are derived from a total of 3,061 decisions on record. 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 Koltys'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 2016, the approval rate for Henry Koltys has fluctuated. After reaching a peak of 67% in 2021, the trend has varied, with the most recent fiscal year-to-date period showing a 47% approval rate. This recent figure represents a divergence from his long-term average, which may reflect shifts in the complexity of cases or the specific evidence presented during those hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Koltys'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 Santa Barbara hearing office
Henry Koltys's most recent office on record is the Santa Barbara hearing office. This office hosts 7 judges who have recorded decisions there since 2016. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 69%, you can expect a review of your medical records and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Santa Barbara
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Santa Barbara office, there are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 35% to 82%. In the latest SSA file, 3 of these judges recorded decisions at this location.
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
Henry Koltys's 57% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 35% to 82% range observed among the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is Santa Barbara. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your evidence to the specific expectations of this bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. After a high of 67% in 2021, the most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 47% approval rate. A qualified attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses these trends effectively.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney by your side ensures that your testimony is clear and your medical records are properly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific case. Your success depends on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you meet the SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of the judge's history.
