Approval rates
Judge Kurtz maintains a lifetime approval rate of 54%, a figure derived from 16,091 total decisions during his 8-year tenure. When compared to the most recent reporting period, his approval rate sits 3 percentage points lower than the Flint Hearing Office average and 4 points below the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for his courtroom, though they are not predictive of your individual outcome.
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 Kurtz'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 his 8 years on the bench, Judge Kurtz has seen his approval rates shift, starting at 52% in 2016 and reaching a peak of 61% in 2022 before settling at 56% in 2023. With 16,091 lifetime decisions, his pattern reflects a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims. The recent data suggests a return to his long-term average after a period of higher approval frequency.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kurtz'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 Kurtz? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Flint hearing office
The Flint Hearing Office serves a significant population across Michigan, managing a high volume of SSDI claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 57%, reflecting the broader regional trends in disability adjudication. You should be prepared for a formal process centered on medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Judge Kurtz is essentially random. Across the Flint Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates for the 6 judges on the bench range from 43% to 60%. Because each judge manages their own docket, the specific judge you draw can influence the rhythm of your hearing.
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.