Approval rates
Judge Jecklin's approval rate is evaluated against the broader context of the St. Louis Hearing Office. While her lifetime rate is 31%, recent reporting shows a 36% approval rate. This data, derived from 12,363 lifetime decisions, provides a statistical look at her courtroom history. Please note that 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 Jecklin'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
Over her 9-year tenure, Judge Jecklin has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. After an initial period in 2017, your annual approval rates have hovered between 27% and 37%. While her latest period approval rate of 36% is slightly higher than her lifetime average, it remains distinct from the 54% office-wide average. An attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure you have the best chance of success.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Jecklin'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.
Have a hearing with Judge Jecklin? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the St Louis hearing office
The St. Louis Hearing Office serves a significant population across Missouri, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 54%. You can expect a rigorous review process where detailed medical records are essential. An attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure you have the best chance of success.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.