Approval rates
The approval rate for Key is based on 2,235 decisions recorded between April 2016 and September 2022. This data reflects the judge's activity over that specific window. Because SSA does not provide a current 12-month figure for this judge, no direct comparison to national or office-wide averages for the most recent year is available. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Key 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 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Key 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 Key'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
Key's approval rate has fluctuated across the record starting in 2016. The data shows 54% approval in 2016, 42% in 2017, 36% in 2018, 42% in 2019, 39% in 2020, 32% in 2021, and 44% in 2022. These figures represent the 2,235 total decisions on record through September 2022.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Key'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.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Creve Coeur
SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Creve Coeur Hearing Office. Because none of these judges have decisions in the most recent SSA file, there is no current range of approval rates to compare. Preparation remains consistent 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
Because Key and the other 6 judges at the Creve Coeur Hearing Office are not in the most recent SSA file, there is no current 12-month comparison available. Each judge has a unique history of decisions, and an attorney can help you understand how to prepare for your specific hearing.
Key's approval rate has varied over the years on record, starting at 54% in 2016 and reaching 44% in 2022. These fluctuations are based on 2,235 total decisions. An attorney can help you evaluate how these past patterns might relate to your own case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
The 39% approval rate on record for Key describes past decisions, not the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case depends on the evidence and medical documentation you provide. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present the strongest possible case.
