Approval rates
Judge Kuperman maintains a lifetime approval rate of 72%, which compares favorably to the Baltimore Hearing Office latest average of 66%. When measured against the state average of 59% and the national average of 58%, her approval rate remains higher. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,605 lifetime decisions accumulated over her tenure. Aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than individual hearing outcomes.
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 Kuperman'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 your 2 years on the bench, Judge Kuperman has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. Her approval rate moved from 71% in 2016 to 74% in 2017. This stability suggests a reliable decision-making pattern that has remained steady throughout your time at the Baltimore Hearing Office. The data reflects a continuation of this pattern, providing a view of how evidence is typically weighed in your courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kuperman'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 Kuperman? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore Hearing Office serves a large population across Maryland, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 66%. You can expect a professional environment focused on the review of medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Baltimore Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Baltimore Hearing Office bench, lifetime approval rates for judges range from 46% to 81%. Because of this variance, understanding the general environment of the office is helpful for your claim. Preparation remains consistent 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.