Approval rates
Evaluating an approval rate requires looking at the data in context. You can compare the 39% approval rate on record since 2017 against the 33% to 77% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Kansas City. In the latest reporting period, Michael Werner's 52% approval rate sits 4 percentage points below the office average of 56%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the local judicial environment.
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 Werner'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 December 2017, the approval rate for Michael Werner has shown a notable evolution. After a period of lower approval rates between 2019 and 2021, the data indicates a consistent upward trend. Specifically, the latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 52%, which is a shift from the 39% average observed over the entire record. This recent uptick reflects changes in the docket as the record has matured.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Werner'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 Kansas City hearing office
The Kansas City hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region. With a bench of 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, it handles a high volume of disability claims. The office-wide latest approval rate is 56%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kansas City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Kansas City, and 12 of them decided cases there in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 33% to 77%.
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
Michael Werner's 39% approval rate on record since 2017 falls within the 33% to 77% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Kansas City. While his latest-period rate of 52% is slightly below the office average of 56%, your individual case outcome depends heavily on the specific medical evidence you present. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. After hovering between 32% and 36% from 2019 to 2023, the approval rate has trended upward, reaching 52% in the most recent reporting period. This pattern suggests a shift in recent decision-making, though past performance is not a guarantee of future results. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your hearing.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot influence this assignment, it is important to be prepared for any judge by having a complete and well-documented medical file. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While the 39% rate on record provides context, your success depends on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you review your case and identify the best strategy for your hearing.
