Approval rates
When evaluating your potential for a favorable outcome, it is helpful to look at how a judge's history compares to broader benchmarks. Judge Kuhn has maintained a 46% approval rate over her 7-year tenure, which currently tracks 8 points below the Minneapolis Hearing Office average and 12 points below the national average. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 11,457 lifetime decisions, providing a clear view of historical trends. 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 Kuhn'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 7 years on the bench, Judge Kuhn has presided over 11,457 lifetime decisions. Her annual approval rates remained between 41% and 49% for most of her tenure, with a lower rate in the most recent reporting period. This pattern suggests that while her approach has been consistent historically, recent fluctuations may be influenced by changes in case volume or the specific nature of the evidence presented. Understanding this trend helps you see the broader context of how your case may be evaluated.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kuhn'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 Kuhn? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Minneapolis hearing office
The Minneapolis Hearing Office serves a wide population across Minnesota, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 54%, reflecting the regional standards for SSDI adjudication. You can expect a formal process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Minneapolis 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 your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Minneapolis Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 46% to 67%. While these variations exist, the core requirements for proving disability remain constant regardless of who hears your case. You can review the Minneapolis Hearing Office page for more information on the local bench.
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.