Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 30% approval rate for Kathleen Winters covers the entire period from December 2016 through July 2026. These metrics are derived from a significant volume of 3,163 decisions, providing a stable statistical baseline. These figures reflect historical patterns rather than a fixed outcome for your 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 Winters'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
Since December 2016, Kathleen Winters has issued 3,163 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, with rates ranging from a low of 20% in 2025 to a high of 37% in 2023. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 34% approval rate, which is a fiscal year-to-date partial figure. This latest period indicates a return toward the higher end of the historical range after a dip in the previous year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Winters'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 Toledo OH hearing office
The Toledo OH hearing office is the most recent office on record for Kathleen Winters, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office has a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 54%. You can expect a standard hearing process where evidence quality and medical documentation remain the primary factors in your decision. You can see the Toledo OH Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Toledo OH
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Toledo OH office, and 7 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 30% to 77% on their records since 2016. 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
Kathleen Winters has a 30% approval rate on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 30% to 77% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Toledo OH office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Kathleen Winters has fluctuated over time, starting at 34% in 2017 and reaching 34% in the partial 2026 data. The rate reached a peak of 37% in 2023 before a decline in 2025. Understanding these trends is part of how 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. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of your assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and medical treatments. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are complete.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Kathleen Winters has a 30% approval rate on record since 2016, your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
