Comparable Aggregate Data
These charts are designed to give you an idea
about the progression of applications through the Social Security Administration's
(SSA) disability determination process. They are not based on data gathered by tracking
individual cases through the process. Rather, they are based on aggregate data for
all appeals in Fiscal Year (FY) 2001-2005 for Title II (Disability Insurance), Title XVI (Supplemental
Security Income) and concurrent applications. Experience can vary from year to
year and by application type. Additionally the numbers presented in these charts are rounded
up.
Disability Process Flow
There is a larger chart that details the flow of an application through the Social Security disability
determination process in fiscal year (FY) 2001. Taken from an applicant's point
of view, the chart shows the path of a disability application from first contact
with SSA through the initial claim, appeals, and district court processes. The
chart presents a worst-case scenario because it presumes the application was
denied at each stage. In reality, as seen in the first chart here, most claims
are allowed (57 of 100), and most allowances are made at the initial level (40
out of 57 that are allowed overall for every 100 cases). Only about 5 cases out
of 100 go beyond the administrative hearings level, and less than 1 per 100 enter
Federal court.
 The rectangular blocks represent the tasks in the
initial determination and appeals processes. The color of the blocks indicates
the component responsible for those tasks.
 SSA's field operations are shown in blue. Applicants
contact a Social Security teleservice center or field office to begin the application
process. A field office employee interviews the applicant and assists in gathering
some of the information necessary to show that he or she meets the requirements
for disability benefits. Employees in the field office also help applicants file
appeals. Following a favorable disability determination, the field office completes
work on the application and initiates payment.
 The Disability Determination Services (DDS), are
shown in green. The DDS in the home state of the applicant makes the initial
disability determination. They secure medical evidence from the applicant's treating
and other medical sources, and arrange for one or more consultative examinations
if there is not enough evidence to make a decision. DDS employees gather information
from the applicant and other sources and evaluate all the information to arrive
at a disability determination. The DDS is also responsible for making the disability
determination at the first appeal level—the reconsideration.
 The patterned green rectangles represent quality
review functions. SSA conducts reviews of some cases for consistency and accuracy.
 Processing Centers are shown in purple. Some cases
are sent to a Processing Center for final payment.
 The beige rectangles represent Hearing Offices.
The Hearing Office processes the second appeal—the hearing. The hearing
is held by a Social Security Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Some cases are decided
based on information already in the file, but most are decided after a hearing
before an ALJ. Additional medical evidence may be gathered and submitted by the
appellant or representative.
 The yellow rectangles represent the Appeals Council
(AC). The AC processes the third and final administrative appeal—the Appeals
Council Review. The Administrative Appeals Judge (AAJ) conducts a procedural
review of the decision made by the ALJ. The AAJ does not conduct another hearing.
 The gray boxes represent Federal District Courts.
The Office of Appellate Operations and the Office of the General Counsel work
together with a local U.S. Attorney when an applicant files a complaint in district
court.
 The icons connected by dotted lines show the employee
position performing each type of action.
 The triangles indicate delays. Some of
these include mail time, medical provider response time, and the sixty-day appeal
time legally available to the applicant at each step of the process.
 The calendar pages along the bottom show the approximate
number of days from the applicant's first contact with SSA through the end of
the process charted above it. These are based on estimated average processing
time for the mainstream process. Therefore, individual times may vary greatly.
 The information at the top of the chart indicates
the volume of cases that were considered and processed in FY 2001.
View the chart of the disability process in HTML format.
View the chart of the disability process in PDF format.
Note: This chart is for illustration purposes only and is based on assumptions
that may or may not be applicable in any given case. In addition, the chart does
not reflect recent decisions made by the Commissioner of Social Security to improve
the administrative process. Therefore, the chart should not be relied upon by
a claimant to determine whether to pursue his or her own claim.
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