Approval rates
The 72% approval rate for Frances P. Kuperman reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which you can measure against the 32% to 79% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. These statistics are based on 397 decisions on record, providing a clear view of past activity. 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 Kuperman. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
The approval rate for Frances P. Kuperman remained steady during the period of 2016 to 2017. With 330 decisions in 2016 and 203 decisions in 2017, the data shows a consistent approach to case evaluation. These 397 total decisions on record since 2016 provide a stable view of the judge's historical pattern.
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.
About the Baltimore hearing office
Frances P. Kuperman's most recent office on record is the Baltimore hearing office, which serves you in Maryland and the surrounding region. This office has seen 24 judges with records since 2016. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 79% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Frances P. Kuperman has a 72% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 32% to 79% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
The approval rate for Frances P. Kuperman has remained steady, with 73% in 2016 and 72% in 2017. This consistency across 397 decisions on record since 2016 indicates a stable approach to case adjudication. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific judge.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. Regardless of your judge, an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you navigate these questions and present your case effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Frances P. Kuperman has a 72% approval rate on record since 2016, your results depend on the unique medical and vocational evidence in your file. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
