Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Karen Winn based on her total decisions on record since 2016. These figures represent the percentage of cases where benefits were awarded. The data relies on 1,678 total decisions to provide a clear view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Winn 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 Winn 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 Winn'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
Karen Winn's approval rate has fluctuated across her record of 1,678 decisions since 2016. The data shows a peak of 63% in 2017, followed by a period where rates remained between 53% and 60% through 2021. The most recent data from 2022 shows a rate of 57% over a smaller volume of 43 decisions. The yearly trend shows these variations without a single consistent direction.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Winn'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
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, 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. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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 Karen Winn and the other 6 judges associated with the Creve Coeur office do not have decisions in the most recent SSA file, there is no current comparative range. Each judge operates independently, and an attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively.
Karen Winn's approval rate has varied over time, starting at 63% in 2017 and moving through a range of 53% to 60% in subsequent years. Her record through 2022 reflects these shifts across 1,678 total decisions. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how your specific evidence aligns with these past patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case will be decided based on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case regardless of which judge is assigned.
