Approval rates
The approval rate for Edwin E. Kerstine is based on 1,051 total decisions recorded between 2016 and 2018. This figure is presented alongside the performance of other judges at the Jackson MS office who appear in the most recent SSA data. These statistics provide a broad view of historical outcomes at this location.
Judge Kerstine is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Kerstine isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Kerstine'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
Edwin E. Kerstine issued 1,051 decisions between 2016 and 2018. The yearly approval rates were 89% in 2016, 91% in 2017, and 89% in 2018. This data reflects activity during that specific three-year window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kerstine'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 Jackson MS hearing office
The Jackson MS hearing office serves you across Mississippi and the surrounding region. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jackson MS
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is Jackson MS, 5 judges decided cases here in SSA's latest file and range from 41% to 59% on their since-2016 records.
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
Edwin E. Kerstine's 90% approval rate on record through 2018 is higher than the 41% to 59% range seen among the 5 judges currently active in the latest SSA file at this office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Edwin E. Kerstine was 89% in 2016, 91% in 2017, and 89% in 2018. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
The approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in your disability claim. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
