Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Matthews, Kelly

HOUSTON WESTTexas Stable

-25.9 pts vs national average

31.9%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge31.9%

HOUSTON WEST55.2%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

270

Fully favorable

22.2%

Partially favorable

9.6%

Denials

184

68.1%

Total dispositions

348

Dismissals

22.4%

Awards

3-year trend

Stable

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 22.2%Partially fav. 9.6%Denied 68.1%

Approval rate history

FY2017

44.3%244 dec

FY2018

40.0%417 dec

FY2019

35.2%440 dec

FY2020

32.1%417 dec

FY2021

32.9%401 dec

FY2022

30.3%287 dec

FY2023

23.9%255 dec

FY2024

29.4%309 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at HOUSTON WEST (11)

Strong, Helen F
243 dec84.8%
Suing, Timothy
22 dec77.3%
Bach, Laura
359 dec66.3%
Burdette, Robert
370 dec66.2%
Wyatt, Kimberly O.
162 dec56.8%
Eason, Kimani R
355 dec56.6%
Gilbert, Richard A
383 dec52.7%
Mendola, Mark
200 dec51.0%
Boyle, Solomon
252 dec48.8%
Bennett, Vincent
280 dec36.8%
Beers, Caroline
345 dec33.3%

Judges in Texas with the most decisions

Stubblefield, Ross
HOUSTON NORTH588 dec
Simmons, D'Lisa
HOUSTON NORTH477 dec
Helget, Thomas J
HOUSTON NORTH458 dec
Patel, Hiral D.
RIO GRANDE VALLEY TX427 dec
Gutierrez, David
HOUSTON NORTH424 dec

Next step

Estimate approval odds

See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.