Approval rates
Sasha Kurbegov maintains a 75% approval rate on record since 2023. In the most recent reporting period, this figure sits 14 percentage points above the Denver office average of 61%, 23 points above the state average, and 17 points above the national average. These figures are derived from a total of 1,094 decisions on record.
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 Kurbegov'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 January 2023, your approval rate for Sasha Kurbegov has shown movement. After an initial 73% approval rate in 2023, the rate shifted to 71% in 2024 before rising to 82% in 2025. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date figure of 75% reflects the current trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kurbegov'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 Denver hearing office
The Denver hearing office is the most recent office on record for Sasha Kurbegov as of July 2026. With 22 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%. You can see the Denver hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Denver
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Denver hearing office. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 75%.
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
Sasha Kurbegov's 75% approval rate in the latest period is higher than the Denver office average of 61%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated, moving from 73% in 2023 to 82% in 2025, before settling at 75% in the current partial year. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence requirements for your specific disability claim.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases via a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why working with a qualified attorney is essential to prepare for any outcome.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
The 75% approval rate on record since 2023 is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
