PERSPECTIVES: The Growth in Applications for Social Security Disability Insurance: A Spillover Effect from Workers' Compensation

by Xuguang (Steve) Guo and John F. Burton, Jr.
Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 72, No. 3, 2012

Table equivalent for Chart 1. DI beneficiaries as a percentage of adults aged 25–64, 1981–1999
Year	Beneficiaries
1981	2.5
1982	2.4
1983	2.3
1984	2.3
1985	2.3
1986	2.3
1987	2.4
1988	2.4
1989	2.4
1990	2.4
1991	2.6
1992	2.7
1993	2.9
1994	3.0
1995	3.2
1996	3.3
1997	3.3
1998	3.4
1999	3.5
SOURCE: Authors' calculations based on Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin (various editions).

Table equivalent for Chart 2. DI application rates and acceptance ratios, 1981–1999
Year	DI application rate	DI acceptance ratio
1981	881	0.4
1982	776	0.4
1983	762	0.5
1984	776	0.6
1985	744	0.6
1986	812	0.7
1987	799	0.6
1988	745	0.6
1989	708	0.6
1990	741	0.7
1991	801	0.7
1992	919	0.8
1993	963	0.6
1994	978	0.5
1995	958	0.5
1996	860	0.5
1997	808	0.5
1998	748	0.6
1999	752	0.7
SOURCE: Burkhauser and Houtenville (2006).
NOTE: Application rate reflects applicants per 100,000 adults aged 25–64; acceptance ratio equals the number of allowances divided by the number of denials.

Table equivalent for Chart 3. Estimated effects of workers' compensation program changes, 1981–1999
Year	Expected WCPD benefits	WCPD compensability rules
1981	46	-0.07
1982	47	-0.09
1983	48	-0.08
1984	48	-0.08
1985	48	-0.08
1986	47	-0.07
1987	48	-0.07
1988	47	-0.08
1989	48	-0.08
1990	47	-0.05
1991	46	-0.06
1992	45	-0.07
1993	45	-0.14
1994	46	-0.14
1995	46	-0.14
1996	45	-0.16
1997	46	-0.15
1998	45	-0.15
1999	45	-0.15
SOURCE: Authors' calculations.
NOTE: "Expected WCPD benefits" reflects the number of weeks that benefits would replace the average weekly wage in the beneficiary's state. "WCPD compensability rules" represents changes in eligibility rules resulting from legislation or court decisions, expressed as a cumulative index relative to rules in place in 1975; declining values indicate greater stringency.