Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall record since 2016 shows a 65% approval rate, recent trends provide a different snapshot of the current environment. By examining the judge's performance against the 43% to 79% range of the San Rafael bench, you can better understand the local context. 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 Kwon'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 K. Kwon has fluctuated across the 3,752 decisions on record since 2016. After reaching a peak of 73% in 2017 and 2022, the annual approval rate has seen a decline in more recent years, reaching 58% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This latest period shows a slight divergence from the long-term average, reflecting a shift in the recent case mix. These variations highlight how your evidence quality and specific case details remain the primary drivers of your individual outcome.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kwon'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 San Rafael hearing office
K. Kwon's most recent office on record is the San Rafael hearing office, which serves the surrounding region in California. This office is home to 8 judges who have established records since 2016. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%, you can expect a rigorous review process where the documentation of your medical limitations is critical. You can see the San Rafael Hearing Office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Rafael
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Rafael hearing office, with 4 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 43% to 79% on their records since 2016. For your preparation, 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
K. Kwon's 65% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 43% to 79% range of the San Rafael bench. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 68% in 2016 and moving to 58% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert testify before the judge. The judge will review your medical evidence and ask questions to determine your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your limitations are clearly communicated.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your disability. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to meet the judge's standards.
