Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 47% approval rate for Kelly Wilson reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which we measure against the 30% to 78% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma. With 481 decisions on record, the data provides 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 Wilson. 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 Wilson'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
Kelly Wilson decided 481 cases between January 2016 and September 2017. The approval rate was 50% in 2016 across 360 decisions, shifting to 42% in 2017 across 232 decisions. This trend shows a decline in the approval rate toward the end of the recorded period. Such patterns often reflect changes in the specific mix of medical evidence or the complexity of cases assigned during those years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wilson'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 Tacoma hearing office
Kelly Wilson's most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office, with decisions there through September 2017. This office serves you if you are in Washington and the surrounding region. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma
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 Tacoma, with approval rates ranging from 30% to 78% on their since-2016 records. While rates vary across this bench, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain consistent. 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
Kelly Wilson has an approval rate of 47% on record since 2016. This sits within the 30% to 78% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Kelly Wilson was 50% in 2016 and 42% in 2017. This indicates a downward trend over the recorded period. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively regardless of these trends.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare a strong case for any ALJ.
Hearings are administrative proceedings where you, your attorney, and often a vocational or medical expert testify. The judge reviews your medical records and asks questions to determine your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your limitations are clearly communicated.
The 47% approval rate on record for Kelly Wilson is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well your limitations are documented. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
