Kays, John
Billings, MT · Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
Hearing Approval Rate
56.9%
Above the national average of 48.6%
Disability judges hear appeals after an initial claim is denied. Judge Kays approves 56.9% of cases — knowing your judge’s track record helps you and your representative prepare. How to prepare for your hearing →
How Judge Kays Decides Cases
Nat'l avg: 48.6%
Nat'l avg: 35.0%
Nat'l avg: 16.3%
Know Your Numbers
Judge Kays approved 56.9% of dispositions. That’s 8.3 percentage points above the national average of 48.6%. Kays decided 225 cases out of 253 total dispositions. Under SSA’s methodology (excluding dismissals), the approval rate is 64.0%. Knowing your judge’s track record can help you prepare for your hearing.
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Get Your Free GuideDetailed Case Counts— Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
Total Cases
253
Approved
144
Denied
81
Hearing Office
Billings (MT)
8.0 months wait · 1,844 pending
Whether your judge's approval rate is high or low, the strongest factor in your outcome is the quality of your medical evidence and whether you have representation. How judge approval rates vary nationally →
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Appearing before Judge Kays?
Claimants with representation are approved at nearly 3× the rate. A free case evaluation takes less than two minutes — and it could change the outcome of your claim.
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