Approval rates
Judge Lowther maintains a lifetime approval rate of 71% across 5,534 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, her 64% approval rate remains higher than the national average of 58% and the Florida state average of 59%. These figures provide a statistical look at her tenure, though they are not a guarantee of how she will rule on your specific claim. 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 Lowther'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 10 years on the bench, Judge Lowther has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability adjudication. While her approval rates have fluctuated from 76% in 2017 to 50% in 2022, her recent performance shows a 66% approval rate in 2025. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates cases based on the evidence presented. The recent data reflects a steady, evidence-focused approach.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lowther'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.
Hearing with Judge Lowther? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the St Petersburg Fl Oho hearing office
The St Petersburg FL OHO serves a large population of claimants across the region. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 63%, which is higher than the national average. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical documentation and vocational history. You can visit the St Petersburg FL OHO Hearing Office page for more information on the local roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Lowther is essentially random. Within the St Petersburg FL OHO, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 38% to 71%. Because each judge operates with their own judicial philosophy, the variance across the office is significant. You should prepare your case thoroughly regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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.