National New Court Cases and Court Remand Activity
FY 2016 (For Reporting Purposes: 09/26/2015 through 09/30/2016)

This report includes data from the extra 53rd week in Fiscal Year 2016 (covering the period from 9/24/2016 – 9/30/2016), which is an anomaly that occurs every five or six years. If you wish to go to the report for FY 2016 ending 9/23/2016, click here.

These quarterly reports show the number of receipts, dispositions and pending New Court Cases (NCCs) and Court Remands (CRs) during the defined period. The data shown is by month with quarterly and fiscal year (FY) summaries through the most recently completed quarter.

New Court Cases (NCCs) are the result of new civil lawsuit filings by claimants seeking Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits after denial through the Appeals Council level. In response to these civil suit filings, the Appeals Council (AC) in the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) prepares an administrative record including a copy of the claims folder and provides that to the court of jurisdiction. Receipts are incoming cases. Dispositions of NCCs by the AC include preparation of certified records of the cases for filing with the court, AC requests for remand to the ALJ for further action, and other actions. Pending is the number of NCCs awaiting final action at the end of each month, quarter or fiscal year period.

Court Remands (CRs) are claims for benefits returned to the Social Security Administration (SSA) by the courts after court review for further administrative action by SSA. Receipts are incoming CRs. Dispositions of CRs by the AC include remands to the ALJ for further action, decisions by the AC or other actions. Pending is the number of CRs awaiting final action at the end of each month, quarter or fiscal year period.

FY 2016 New Court Cases

Time Period Receipts Dispositions Pending
Oct 2015
1,765
1,352
1,664
Nov 2015
1,308
1,170
1,802
Dec 2015
1,165
1,472
1,495
End 1st Quarter
4,238
3,994
1,495
Jan 2016
1,271
1,505
1,261
Feb 2016
1,475
1,375
1,361
Mar 2016
1,328
1,373
1,316
End 2nd Quarter
4,074
4,253
1,316
Apr 2016
1,654
1,702
1,268
May 2016
1,455
1,364
1,359
Jun 2016
1,575
1,318
1,616
End 3rd Quarter
4,684
4,384
1,616
Jul 2016
1,923
2,018
1,521
Aug 2016
1,512
1,470
1,563
Sep 2016
1,808
2,125
1,246
End 4th Quarter
5,243
5,613
1,246
 
Total FY 2016
18,239
18,244
1,246

FY 2016 Court Remands

Time Period Receipts Dispositions Pending
Oct 2015
924
975
1,273
Nov 2015
597
718
1,152
Dec 2015
681
687
1,146
End 1st Quarter
2,202
2,380
1,146
Jan 2016
725
669
1,202
Feb 2016
821
843
1,180
Mar 2016
963
1,151
992
End 2nd Quarter
2,509
2,663
992
Apr 2016
1,138
1,044
1,086
May 2016
640
769
957
Jun 2016
637
587
1,007
End 3rd Quarter
2,415
2,400
1,007
Jul 2016
813
812
1,008
Aug 2016
598
712
894
Sep 2016
952
903
943
End 4th Quarter
2,363
2,427
943
 
Total FY 2016
9,489
9,870
943

Disclaimer: These data are being made publicly available for research purposes. Any findings and conclusions derived from analyses of these data are attributable to the researcher(s) and do not reflect those of the Social Security Administration.