Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2013

Outcomes of Applications for Disability Benefits

Notes

The tables in this section provide data on the outcomes of applications for disability benefits. The data on applications are derived from the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) Disability Research File maintained by the Office of Disability Programs. Each year this file is updated with information about applications for disability benefits that is then used to determine the outcome of those applications. The outcome data in these tables are reported by year of filing and include decisions made through the administrative appeals process.

Table 60 shows the total number of applications filed in a year, the number denied for nonmedical reasons before a medical decision is made (technical denials), the number that are pending a final decision, the outcome of applications for which a medical allowance or denial was made, and award and allowance rates. Applications for which a medical allowance or denial decision was made but which were subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons are shown under the medical decision header as subsequent denials. The most common nonmedical reason for denying a claim is insufficient number of recent work credits.

The allowance rate is calculated by dividing the number of medical allowances (including subsequent technical denials) by the total number of medical decisions made for a 1-year cohort. The award rate is a broader program measure that is calculated as the number of allowances minus subsequent denials divided by total applications (minus pending claims) filed for a given year.

Claims that remain pending after 6 years are probably the result of imperfect data rather than excessive delays in the decision-making process. It is highly probable that decisions have been rendered on most of the older claims. For more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change as decisions are made on pending claims.

Tables 61–63 show the allowance rate for Social Security only and the Social Security portion of concurrent applications (which are claims for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits). Each table shows a different level in the administrative decision-making process; that is, initial adjudicative, reconsideration, and hearing or higher level.

Beginning with 2000, the proportion of claims awarded at each level of the process changed as a result of the Prototype Process being tested in 10 states. Under this test, the reconsideration step of the appeals process was eliminated for applications filed October 1, 1999, or later. Elimination of the reconsideration level in these states results in a decrease in the aggregate proportion of claims awarded at this step.

This section also includes one table that shows the reason for medical allowance and one that shows the reason for medical denial (Tables 64 and 65). The reasons are derived from the sequential evaluation process used by decision makers. SSA maintains a list of impairments that are considered disabling under its regulations. An applicant can be found to be disabled if he or she

  • has a listed impairment,
  • has a severe impairment that is equal to a listed impairment,
  • has a severe impairment when medical and vocational factors are considered, or
  • had previously established entitlement to a disability benefit.

An applicant can be denied benefits if he or she

  • has an impairment that is not expected to last 12 months,
  • has an impairment that is not considered severe,
  • is able to perform his or her usual type of work,
  • is able to perform another type of work, or
  • has an impairment resulting from drug addiction or alcoholism, provides insufficient medical evidence, fails to cooperate, fails to follow prescribed treatment, does not want to continue development of the claim, or returns to substantial work before disability can be established.
Chart 11. Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2003–2012

The final award rate for disabled-worker applicants has varied over time, averaging 38 percent for claims filed from 2003 through 2012. The percentage of applicants awarded benefits at the initial claims level averaged 24 percent over the same period and ranged from a high of 28 percent to a low of 21 percent. The percentage of applicants awarded at the reconsideration and hearing levels are averaging 2 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Denied disability claims have averaged 59 percent.

Area chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 11. Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2003–2012 (percent)
Year Initial awards Reconsideration awards Hearings and Appeals Council awards Pending final decision Medical denials Technical denials
2003 28.0 3.0 15.6 0.0 32.7 20.6
2004 24.7 2.5 13.8 0.0 30.1 28.9
2005 25.3 2.5 14.1 0.0 31.0 27.1
2006 23.8 2.3 13.3 0.0 30.2 30.2
2007 24.1 2.6 12.8 0.1 28.8 31.5
2008 24.8 2.6 12.1 0.3 27.7 32.6
2009 24.7 2.4 11.4 0.6 28.1 32.8
2010 22.8 2.2 10.6 1.9 27.3 35.2
2011 21.8 2.3 8.2 6.4 25.5 35.8
2012 21.3 1.7 1.7 16.7 22.2 36.4
 
SOURCE: Tables 60–63.
NOTES: Awards are calculated as medical allowances minus subsequent technical denials. Technical denials include both nonmedical decision technical denials and medical decisions that were subsequently denied for technical reasons.
The proportion of claims awarded at each level of the process is likely to change as a result of the Prototype Process being tested in 10 states. Under this test, the reconsideration step of the appeals process was eliminated for applications filed October 1, 1999, or later. Elimination of the reconsideration level in these states is likely to result in a decrease in the overall proportion of claims awarded at this step.
Table 60. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by year of application, 1992–2012
Year Total Pending final decision Technical denials a Medical decisions Award rate d (percent) Allowance rate e (percent)
Denials Allowances
Medical Subsequent nonmedical b Awards Subsequent denials c
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 1,265,037 0 104,332 445,995 4,056 708,797 1,857 56.0 61.3
2000 1,364,323 0 136,054 456,467 3,817 766,047 1,938 56.1 62.6
2001 1,513,411 0 170,520 496,835 3,579 840,542 1,935 55.5 62.8
2002 1,715,710 0 231,067 580,430 4,067 898,047 2,099 52.3 60.7
2003 1,941,894 0 374,305 632,284 4,485 928,747 2,073 47.8 59.5
2004 2,262,119 0 616,830 680,941 5,680 957,023 1,645 42.3 58.3
2005 2,087,733 0 529,704 645,884 7,023 903,132 1,990 43.3 58.2
2006 2,164,393 934 612,227 657,574 7,341 884,369 1,948 40.9 57.2
2007 2,216,565 2,793 652,797 643,682 7,986 907,465 1,842 41.0 58.3
2008 2,358,630 6,227 718,009 658,497 9,085 965,001 1,811 41.0 59.2
2009 2,753,012 14,723 845,892 781,826 10,750 1,097,953 1,868 40.1 58.2
2010 2,981,613 53,508 979,242 822,375 19,289 1,105,097 2,102 37.7 56.9
2011 2,944,980 182,211 981,954 762,563 21,778 994,344 2,130 36.0 56.0
2012 2,847,503 463,463 963,158 646,291 23,484 749,005 2,102 31.4 52.9
  Workers
1992 1,310,004 0 130,885 481,439 5,725 689,111 2,844 52.6 58.8
1993 1,384,501 0 140,314 540,906 5,626 695,007 2,648 50.2 56.2
1994 1,383,092 0 130,240 573,158 5,506 671,791 2,397 48.6 53.9
1995 1,301,472 0 123,711 542,097 5,048 628,380 2,236 48.3 53.6
1996 1,313,818 0 116,988 537,482 5,011 652,221 2,116 49.6 54.8
1997 1,164,680 0 106,868 449,464 4,212 602,277 1,859 51.7 57.2
1998 1,138,101 0 96,718 421,953 4,205 613,181 2,044 53.9 59.2
1999 1,167,650 0 102,305 419,486 4,008 640,065 1,786 54.8 60.3
2000 1,265,188 0 133,947 430,581 3,782 695,007 1,871 54.9 61.7
2001 1,414,524 0 168,231 470,999 3,537 769,877 1,880 54.4 62.0
2002 1,609,480 0 228,455 550,985 4,011 823,981 2,048 51.2 59.9
2003 1,831,154 0 371,334 599,558 4,428 853,832 2,002 46.6 58.7
2004 2,145,629 0 612,791 645,439 5,627 880,178 1,594 41.0 57.6
2005 1,970,277 0 525,788 610,616 6,929 825,028 1,916 41.9 57.3
2006 2,040,681 914 607,447 617,065 7,233 806,134 1,888 39.5 56.5
2007 2,083,897 2,740 647,544 600,466 7,871 823,501 1,775 39.6 57.6
2008 2,217,127 6,090 712,408 614,276 8,949 873,660 1,744 39.5 58.5
2009 2,595,028 14,373 839,890 729,609 10,601 998,764 1,791 38.7 57.5
2010 2,809,477 52,111 968,744 765,994 18,680 1,001,916 2,032 36.3 56.2
2011 2,777,264 177,153 971,146 709,147 21,261 896,493 2,064 34.5 55.2
2012 2,690,831 449,746 953,898 598,215 22,822 664,117 2,033 29.6 51.8
  Widow(er)s
1999 40,053 0 1,173 9,718 17 29,108 37 72.7 75.0
2000 39,990 0 1,258 9,013 11 29,679 29 74.2 76.8
2001 40,227 0 1,344 8,738 13 30,113 19 74.9 77.5
2002 41,065 0 1,540 8,941 18 30,547 19 74.4 77.4
2003 41,243 0 1,645 9,553 24 29,977 44 72.7 75.9
2004 42,449 0 2,072 9,900 22 30,431 24 71.7 75.5
2005 41,409 0 1,895 9,554 27 29,909 24 72.2 75.8
2006 41,468 8 2,194 10,022 38 29,183 23 70.4 74.4
2007 40,781 20 2,212 9,098 28 29,396 27 72.1 76.4
2008 42,140 45 2,329 8,668 33 31,044 21 73.7 78.2
2009 44,059 90 2,552 8,956 43 32,398 20 73.7 78.3
2010 47,583 345 3,553 9,516 83 34,061 25 72.1 78.1
2011 46,396 1,396 3,503 9,206 79 32,178 34 71.5 77.7
2012 45,112 4,213 3,336 8,619 87 28,832 25 70.5 76.9
  Adult children
1999 57,334 0 854 16,791 31 39,624 34 69.1 70.3
2000 59,145 0 849 16,873 24 41,361 38 69.9 71.1
2001 58,660 0 945 17,098 29 40,552 36 69.1 70.4
2002 65,165 0 1,072 20,504 38 43,519 32 66.8 68.0
2003 69,497 0 1,326 23,173 33 44,938 27 64.7 66.0
2004 74,041 0 1,967 25,602 31 46,414 27 62.7 64.5
2005 76,047 0 2,021 25,714 67 48,195 50 63.4 65.2
2006 82,244 12 2,586 30,487 70 49,052 37 59.7 61.7
2007 91,887 33 3,041 34,118 87 54,568 40 59.4 61.5
2008 99,363 92 3,272 35,553 103 60,297 46 60.7 62.9
2009 113,925 260 3,450 43,261 106 66,791 57 58.8 60.7
2010 124,553 1,052 6,945 46,865 526 69,120 45 56.0 59.4
2011 121,320 3,662 7,305 44,210 438 65,673 32 55.8 59.6
2012 111,560 9,504 5,924 39,457 575 56,056 44 54.9 58.4
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2013. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2013.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time. Cases can be pending at the initial or appellate levels and can include either medical or technical issues.
Data include decisions for Social Security–only applications and applications for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); they do not include SSI-only applications.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
a. Applications were denied for nonmedical reasons; therefore no decision was made on severity of impairment.
b. Applications were denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that the applicant did not meet the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
c. Applications were denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that the applicant met the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
d. Rate determined by dividing awards by all applications minus pending claims for that year.
e. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 61. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by year of application and program, 1992–2012
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for Social Security only Decisions on applications for both Social Security and SSI
Total Allowances Allowance rate a (percent) Total Allowances Allowance rate a (percent) Total Allowances Allowance rate a,b (percent)
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 1,160,792 458,854 39.5 649,980 313,152 48.2 510,812 145,702 28.5
2000 1,228,301 500,657 40.8 688,282 339,764 49.4 540,019 160,893 29.8
2001 1,342,915 558,741 41.6 742,869 379,266 51.1 600,046 179,475 29.9
2002 1,484,685 575,089 38.7 794,839 385,453 48.5 689,846 189,636 27.5
2003 1,567,607 583,758 37.2 804,688 383,225 47.6 762,919 200,533 26.3
2004 1,645,319 602,124 36.6 813,005 387,971 47.7 832,314 214,153 25.7
2005 1,558,077 573,335 36.8 762,442 369,349 48.4 795,635 203,986 25.6
2006 1,552,196 560,017 36.1 752,187 362,042 48.1 800,009 197,975 24.7
2007 1,563,812 580,915 37.1 756,230 376,131 49.7 807,582 204,784 25.4
2008 1,640,634 633,732 38.6 782,613 407,875 52.1 858,021 225,857 26.3
2009 1,907,090 732,859 38.4 921,591 479,943 52.1 985,499 252,916 25.7
2010 2,002,110 737,758 36.8 990,086 495,409 50.0 1,012,024 242,349 23.9
2011 1,961,806 697,073 35.5 980,606 473,706 48.3 981,200 223,367 22.8
2012 1,878,035 657,850 35.0 953,759 449,071 47.1 924,276 208,779 22.6
  Workers
1992 1,179,119 436,715 37.0 558,741 248,385 44.5 620,378 188,330 30.4
1993 1,244,187 421,560 33.9 571,464 240,839 42.1 672,723 180,721 26.9
1994 1,252,852 390,785 31.2 591,408 233,059 39.4 661,444 157,726 23.8
1995 1,177,761 367,293 31.2 569,963 223,457 39.2 607,798 143,836 23.7
1996 1,196,830 384,167 32.1 593,992 237,474 40.0 602,838 146,693 24.3
1997 1,057,812 357,880 33.8 551,909 228,793 41.5 505,903 129,087 25.5
1998 1,041,383 374,376 35.9 550,794 238,989 43.4 490,589 135,387 27.6
1999 1,065,430 396,253 37.2 578,884 259,417 44.8 486,546 136,836 28.1
2000 1,131,273 435,416 38.5 615,507 283,906 46.1 515,766 151,510 29.4
2001 1,246,317 493,638 39.6 670,621 323,649 48.3 575,696 169,989 29.5
2002 1,381,065 507,031 36.7 718,611 327,294 45.5 662,454 179,737 27.1
2003 1,459,838 514,871 35.3 728,169 324,769 44.6 731,669 190,102 26.0
2004 1,532,868 531,109 34.6 737,029 328,862 44.6 795,839 202,247 25.4
2005 1,444,537 501,089 34.7 685,223 308,900 45.1 759,314 192,189 25.3
2006 1,433,264 487,670 34.0 674,503 301,953 44.8 758,761 185,717 24.5
2007 1,436,401 504,097 35.1 675,132 313,216 46.4 761,269 190,881 25.1
2008 1,504,736 551,194 36.6 696,996 340,000 48.8 807,740 211,194 26.1
2009 1,755,113 643,307 36.7 830,027 406,985 49.0 925,086 236,322 25.5
2010 1,840,488 643,893 35.0 893,631 418,315 46.8 946,857 225,578 23.8
2011 1,804,981 606,973 33.6 886,357 398,949 45.0 918,624 208,024 22.6
2012 1,730,885 575,798 33.3 866,713 381,540 44.0 864,172 194,258 22.5
  Widow(er)s
1999 38,880 24,898 64.0 29,600 21,272 71.9 9,280 3,626 39.1
2000 38,732 25,748 66.5 29,874 21,967 73.5 8,858 3,781 42.7
2001 38,883 26,206 67.4 30,273 22,436 74.1 8,610 3,770 43.8
2002 39,526 26,489 67.0 30,891 22,751 73.6 8,635 3,738 43.3
2003 39,598 25,960 65.6 30,216 22,213 73.5 9,382 3,747 39.9
2004 40,377 26,555 65.8 29,575 22,205 75.1 10,802 4,350 40.3
2005 39,514 26,151 66.2 29,198 21,989 75.3 10,316 4,162 40.3
2006 39,274 25,478 64.9 28,450 21,370 75.1 10,824 4,108 38.0
2007 38,569 25,471 66.0 27,585 21,161 76.7 10,984 4,310 39.2
2008 39,811 26,728 67.1 28,194 22,167 78.6 11,617 4,561 39.3
2009 41,506 27,778 66.9 28,927 22,782 78.8 12,579 4,996 39.7
2010 44,030 29,467 66.9 30,589 24,183 79.1 13,441 5,284 39.3
2011 42,886 28,281 65.9 29,790 23,422 78.6 13,096 4,859 37.1
2012 41,739 27,366 65.6 28,819 22,684 78.7 12,920 4,682 36.2
  Adult children
1999 56,482 37,703 66.8 41,496 32,463 78.2 14,986 5,240 35.0
2000 58,296 39,493 67.7 42,901 33,891 79.0 15,395 5,602 36.4
2001 57,715 38,897 67.4 41,975 33,181 79.0 15,740 5,716 36.3
2002 64,094 41,569 64.9 45,337 35,408 78.1 18,757 6,161 32.8
2003 68,171 42,927 63.0 46,303 36,243 78.3 21,868 6,684 30.6
2004 72,074 44,460 61.7 46,401 36,904 79.5 25,673 7,556 29.4
2005 74,026 46,095 62.3 48,021 38,460 80.1 26,005 7,635 29.4
2006 79,658 46,869 58.8 49,234 38,719 78.6 30,424 8,150 26.8
2007 88,842 51,347 57.8 53,513 41,754 78.0 35,329 9,593 27.2
2008 96,087 55,810 58.1 57,423 45,708 79.6 38,664 10,102 26.1
2009 110,471 61,774 55.9 62,637 50,176 80.1 47,834 11,598 24.2
2010 117,592 64,398 54.8 65,866 52,911 80.3 51,726 11,487 22.2
2011 113,939 61,819 54.3 64,459 51,335 79.6 49,480 10,484 21.2
2012 105,411 54,686 51.9 58,227 44,847 77.0 47,184 9,839 20.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2013.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the allowance rate will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or be subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
SSI = Supplemental Security Income.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Rate for the Social Security portion only.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 62. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by year of application and program, 1992–2012
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for Social Security only Decisions on applications for both Social Security and SSI
Total Allowances Allowance rate a (percent) Total Allowances Allowance rate a (percent) Total Allowances Allowance rate a,b (percent)
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 397,127 58,602 14.8 209,682 33,223 15.8 187,445 25,379 13.5
2000 407,758 55,631 13.6 214,965 31,473 14.6 192,793 24,158 12.5
2001 434,185 55,494 12.8 221,720 30,807 13.9 212,465 24,687 11.6
2002 502,441 57,460 11.4 249,822 31,212 12.5 252,619 26,248 10.4
2003 542,986 57,868 10.7 258,354 30,344 11.7 284,632 27,524 9.7
2004 558,584 56,534 10.1 255,236 28,940 11.3 303,348 27,594 9.1
2005 514,242 51,009 9.9 231,211 26,331 11.4 283,031 24,678 8.7
2006 514,376 50,365 9.8 227,858 25,854 11.3 286,518 24,511 8.6
2007 519,181 56,453 10.9 224,378 29,597 13.2 294,803 26,856 9.1
2008 546,367 58,969 10.8 222,839 29,827 13.4 323,528 29,142 9.0
2009 644,168 63,952 9.9 264,438 33,131 12.5 379,730 30,821 8.1
2010 705,997 64,618 9.2 299,749 34,886 11.6 406,248 29,732 7.3
2011 718,043 66,033 9.2 310,138 36,647 11.8 407,905 29,386 7.2
2012 591,510 47,219 8.0 259,796 26,770 10.3 331,714 20,449 6.2
  Workers
1992 419,798 53,881 12.8 190,594 25,352 13.3 229,204 28,529 12.4
1993 469,151 58,275 12.4 206,606 27,306 13.2 262,545 30,969 11.8
1994 489,731 62,757 12.8 226,013 31,468 13.9 263,718 31,289 11.9
1995 458,036 60,584 13.2 218,950 31,563 14.4 239,086 29,021 12.1
1996 464,582 65,466 14.1 226,333 33,596 14.8 238,249 31,870 13.4
1997 403,225 59,978 14.9 206,148 33,373 16.2 197,077 26,605 13.5
1998 384,997 61,742 16.0 199,292 34,043 17.1 185,705 27,699 14.9
1999 384,286 55,272 14.4 202,999 31,712 15.6 181,287 23,560 13.0
2000 396,216 52,794 13.3 208,638 30,189 14.5 187,578 22,605 12.1
2001 422,937 52,905 12.5 215,591 29,647 13.8 207,346 23,258 11.2
2002 489,974 54,974 11.2 243,259 30,157 12.4 246,715 24,817 10.1
2003 529,775 55,342 10.4 252,226 29,348 11.6 277,549 25,994 9.4
2004 545,134 54,089 9.9 249,523 28,031 11.2 295,611 26,058 8.8
2005 501,343 48,640 9.7 225,669 25,472 11.3 275,674 23,168 8.4
2006 500,850 47,940 9.6 222,404 25,072 11.3 278,446 22,868 8.2
2007 503,405 53,973 10.7 218,611 28,748 13.2 284,794 25,225 8.9
2008 527,721 56,615 10.7 216,916 28,998 13.4 310,805 27,617 8.9
2009 621,628 61,239 9.9 257,971 32,251 12.5 363,657 28,988 8.0
2010 681,711 61,885 9.1 293,126 33,989 11.6 388,585 27,896 7.2
2011 694,159 63,357 9.1 303,477 35,728 11.8 390,682 27,629 7.1
2012 572,114 45,446 7.9 254,474 26,152 10.3 317,640 19,294 6.1
  Widow(er)s
1999 7,125 1,962 27.5 4,114 895 21.8 3,011 1,067 35.4
2000 6,379 1,572 24.6 3,872 734 19.0 2,507 838 33.4
2001 6,212 1,582 25.5 3,865 728 18.8 2,347 854 36.4
2002 6,390 1,392 21.8 3,996 649 16.2 2,394 743 31.0
2003 6,665 1,378 20.7 3,832 637 16.6 2,833 741 26.2
2004 6,474 1,349 20.8 3,456 566 16.4 3,018 783 25.9
2005 6,104 1,223 20.0 3,329 526 15.8 2,775 697 25.1
2006 5,984 1,172 19.6 3,119 437 14.0 2,865 735 25.7
2007 5,948 1,096 18.4 2,887 451 15.6 3,061 645 21.1
2008 6,347 905 14.3 2,858 387 13.5 3,489 518 14.8
2009 6,987 1,058 15.1 3,044 440 14.5 3,943 618 15.7
2010 7,359 1,057 14.4 3,073 460 15.0 4,286 597 13.9
2011 7,571 1,108 14.6 3,128 493 15.8 4,443 615 13.8
2012 6,267 812 13.0 2,525 340 13.5 3,742 472 12.6
  Adult children
1999 5,716 1,368 23.9 2,569 616 24.0 3,147 752 23.9
2000 5,163 1,265 24.5 2,455 550 22.4 2,708 715 26.4
2001 5,036 1,007 20.0 2,264 432 19.1 2,772 575 20.7
2002 6,077 1,094 18.0 2,567 406 15.8 3,510 688 19.6
2003 6,546 1,148 17.5 2,296 359 15.6 4,250 789 18.6
2004 6,976 1,096 15.7 2,257 343 15.2 4,719 753 16.0
2005 6,795 1,146 16.9 2,213 333 15.0 4,582 813 17.7
2006 7,542 1,253 16.6 2,335 345 14.8 5,207 908 17.4
2007 9,828 1,384 14.1 2,880 398 13.8 6,948 986 14.2
2008 12,299 1,449 11.8 3,065 442 14.4 9,234 1,007 10.9
2009 15,553 1,655 10.6 3,423 440 12.9 12,130 1,215 10.0
2010 16,927 1,676 9.9 3,550 437 12.3 13,377 1,239 9.3
2011 16,313 1,568 9.6 3,533 426 12.1 12,780 1,142 8.9
2012 13,129 961 7.3 2,797 278 9.9 10,332 683 6.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2013.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the allowance rate will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or be subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
A revised process was introduced on October 1, 1999, in 10 states, under which initial denials could be appealed directly to the hearing level without a reconsideration.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
SSI = Supplemental Security Income.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Rate for the Social Security portion only.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 63. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by year of application and program, 1992–2012
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for Social Security only Decisions on applications for both Social Security and SSI
Total Allowances Allowance rate a (percent) Total Allowances Allowance rate a (percent) Total Allowances Allowance rate a,b (percent)
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 265,058 193,198 72.9 144,847 114,207 78.8 120,211 78,991 65.7
2000 290,068 211,697 73.0 157,001 124,015 79.0 133,067 87,682 65.9
2001 313,839 228,242 72.7 164,710 130,576 79.3 149,129 97,666 65.5
2002 369,875 267,597 72.3 189,671 150,834 79.5 180,204 116,763 64.8
2003 401,747 289,194 72.0 197,765 157,566 79.7 203,982 131,628 64.5
2004 415,320 300,010 72.2 196,697 158,770 80.7 218,623 141,240 64.6
2005 384,317 280,778 73.1 178,286 144,754 81.2 206,031 136,024 66.0
2006 386,045 275,935 71.5 175,952 141,099 80.2 210,093 134,836 64.2
2007 384,587 271,939 70.7 168,845 134,958 79.9 215,742 136,981 63.5
2008 398,867 274,111 68.7 165,208 130,587 79.0 233,659 143,524 61.4
2009 467,331 303,010 64.8 195,117 147,799 75.7 272,214 155,211 57.0
2010 481,960 304,823 63.2 210,529 156,251 74.2 271,431 148,572 54.7
2011 366,415 233,368 63.7 166,921 124,395 74.5 199,494 108,973 54.6
2012 69,643 46,038 66.1 36,455 27,751 76.1 33,188 18,287 55.1
  Workers
1992 275,863 201,359 73.0 131,624 105,371 80.1 144,239 95,988 66.5
1993 310,655 217,816 70.1 143,997 112,593 78.2 166,658 105,223 63.1
1994 323,607 220,645 68.2 156,458 119,338 76.3 167,149 101,307 60.6
1995 301,917 202,739 67.2 150,882 113,781 75.4 151,035 88,958 58.9
1996 306,245 204,704 66.8 157,790 116,292 73.7 148,455 88,412 59.6
1997 267,288 186,278 69.7 141,021 107,539 76.3 126,267 78,739 62.4
1998 251,486 179,107 71.2 134,883 104,763 77.7 116,603 74,344 63.8
1999 260,850 190,326 73.0 141,671 111,954 79.0 119,179 78,372 65.8
2000 285,620 208,668 73.1 153,649 121,651 79.2 131,971 87,017 65.9
2001 309,372 225,214 72.8 161,335 128,214 79.5 148,037 97,000 65.5
2002 364,659 264,024 72.4 185,830 148,078 79.7 178,829 115,946 64.8
2003 396,352 285,621 72.1 194,232 155,060 79.8 202,120 130,561 64.6
2004 410,141 296,574 72.3 193,463 156,424 80.9 216,678 140,150 64.7
2005 379,217 277,215 73.1 175,061 142,323 81.3 204,156 134,892 66.1
2006 380,810 272,412 71.5 172,717 138,786 80.4 208,093 133,626 64.2
2007 376,779 267,206 70.9 165,447 132,584 80.1 211,332 134,622 63.7
2008 387,730 267,595 69.0 161,427 127,858 79.2 226,303 139,737 61.7
2009 454,276 296,009 65.2 191,164 145,045 75.9 263,112 150,964 57.4
2010 468,944 298,170 63.6 206,619 153,567 74.3 262,325 144,603 55.1
2011 356,726 228,227 64.0 163,850 122,275 74.6 192,876 105,952 54.9
2012 67,643 44,906 66.4 35,674 27,202 76.3 31,969 17,704 55.4
  Widow(er)s
1999 3,027 2,285 75.5 2,325 1,794 77.2 702 491 69.9
2000 3,140 2,388 76.1 2,414 1,870 77.5 726 518 71.3
2001 3,046 2,344 77.0 2,391 1,862 77.9 655 482 73.6
2002 3,438 2,685 78.1 2,654 2,109 79.5 784 576 73.5
2003 3,525 2,683 76.1 2,438 1,914 78.5 1,087 769 70.7
2004 3,241 2,551 78.7 2,199 1,786 81.2 1,042 765 73.4
2005 3,187 2,559 80.3 2,166 1,796 82.9 1,021 763 74.7
2006 3,165 2,556 80.8 2,083 1,718 82.5 1,082 838 77.4
2007 3,622 2,856 78.9 1,949 1,594 81.8 1,673 1,262 75.4
2008 4,360 3,432 78.7 2,034 1,697 83.4 2,326 1,735 74.6
2009 4,686 3,582 76.4 2,100 1,728 82.3 2,586 1,854 71.7
2010 4,820 3,562 73.9 2,061 1,654 80.3 2,759 1,908 69.2
2011 3,778 2,823 74.7 1,619 1,282 79.2 2,159 1,541 71.4
2012 872 679 77.9 434 364 83.9 438 315 71.9
  Adult children
1999 1,181 587 49.7 851 459 53.9 330 128 38.8
2000 1,308 641 49.0 938 494 52.7 370 147 39.7
2001 1,421 684 48.1 984 500 50.8 437 184 42.1
2002 1,778 888 49.9 1,187 647 54.5 591 241 40.8
2003 1,870 890 47.6 1,095 592 54.1 775 298 38.5
2004 1,938 885 45.7 1,035 560 54.1 903 325 36.0
2005 1,913 1,004 52.5 1,059 635 60.0 854 369 43.2
2006 2,070 967 46.7 1,152 595 51.6 918 372 40.5
2007 4,186 1,877 44.8 1,449 780 53.8 2,737 1,097 40.1
2008 6,777 3,084 45.5 1,747 1,032 59.1 5,030 2,052 40.8
2009 8,369 3,419 40.9 1,853 1,026 55.4 6,516 2,393 36.7
2010 8,196 3,091 37.7 1,849 1,030 55.7 6,347 2,061 32.5
2011 5,911 2,318 39.2 1,452 838 57.7 4,459 1,480 33.2
2012 1,128 453 40.2 347 185 53.3 781 268 34.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through July 2013.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the allowance rate will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or be subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
A revised process was introduced on October 1, 1999, in 10 states, under which initial denials could be appealed directly to the hearing level without a reconsideration.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
SSI = Supplemental Security Income.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Rate for the Social Security portion only.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 64. Number and percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by year of application and reason for allowance, 1992–2012
Year Total Meets level of severity of listings Equals level of severity of listings Medical and vocational factors considered Other a
Number Percent
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 708,797 100.0 33.0 5.9 26.9 34.2
2000 766,047 100.0 31.1 6.2 29.2 33.5
2001 840,542 100.0 30.0 6.1 30.1 33.9
2002 898,047 100.0 28.5 5.3 30.1 36.1
2003 928,747 100.0 27.1 5.1 31.1 36.7
2004 957,023 100.0 26.5 5.0 31.6 36.9
2005 903,132 100.0 26.6 4.7 32.2 36.5
2006 884,369 100.0 26.6 4.6 32.1 36.8
2007 907,465 100.0 26.3 4.6 32.9 36.2
2008 965,001 100.0 25.6 5.2 34.3 34.9
2009 1,097,953 100.0 24.5 5.3 35.9 34.3
2010 1,105,097 100.0 23.4 5.2 36.7 34.7
2011 994,344 100.0 24.1 5.4 40.5 30.0
2012 749,005 100.0 29.6 6.6 50.2 13.6
  Workers
1992 689,111 100.0 34.3 11.1 24.3 30.3
1993 695,007 100.0 34.3 8.7 23.6 33.4
1994 671,791 100.0 34.5 6.9 25.6 32.9
1995 628,380 100.0 34.5 6.7 26.8 31.9
1996 652,221 100.0 34.2 7.0 27.4 31.5
1997 602,277 100.0 35.0 7.5 26.4 31.1
1998 613,181 100.0 35.5 6.6 26.9 31.0
1999 640,065 100.0 33.6 6.3 28.3 31.9
2000 695,007 100.0 31.7 6.5 30.6 31.2
2001 769,877 100.0 30.5 6.4 31.3 31.8
2002 823,981 100.0 29.0 5.6 31.4 34.0
2003 853,832 100.0 27.5 5.3 32.5 34.8
2004 880,178 100.0 26.8 5.2 33.0 35.0
2005 825,028 100.0 27.1 4.9 33.8 34.2
2006 806,134 100.0 27.0 4.8 33.8 34.4
2007 823,501 100.0 26.7 4.9 34.8 33.6
2008 873,660 100.0 26.1 5.5 36.4 31.9
2009 998,764 100.0 25.0 5.6 38.0 31.4
2010 1,001,916 100.0 23.9 5.5 39.1 31.5
2011 896,493 100.0 24.8 5.8 43.3 26.1
2012 664,117 100.0 30.9 7.1 54.7 7.2
  Widow(er)s
1999 29,108 100.0 14.9 2.5 24.6 58.0
2000 29,679 100.0 12.8 2.5 26.3 58.4
2001 30,113 100.0 12.3 2.6 27.0 58.1
2002 30,547 100.0 11.4 2.1 26.5 60.0
2003 29,977 100.0 10.8 2.2 26.1 60.9
2004 30,431 100.0 10.2 1.9 26.3 61.5
2005 29,909 100.0 9.8 1.7 25.8 62.7
2006 29,183 100.0 9.6 1.5 24.4 64.4
2007 29,396 100.0 9.2 1.6 24.4 64.8
2008 31,044 100.0 8.7 1.7 24.9 64.6
2009 32,398 100.0 8.2 1.9 26.1 63.8
2010 34,061 100.0 7.8 1.9 25.4 64.9
2011 32,178 100.0 8.1 1.7 26.2 64.0
2012 28,832 100.0 8.0 1.8 27.9 62.3
  Adult children
1999 39,624 100.0 35.9 3.2 7.4 53.5
2000 41,361 100.0 35.0 3.1 7.3 54.7
2001 40,552 100.0 33.0 3.0 8.0 56.0
2002 43,519 100.0 31.7 2.9 7.6 57.8
2003 44,938 100.0 31.0 2.7 8.2 58.2
2004 46,414 100.0 30.4 2.8 8.6 58.3
2005 48,195 100.0 28.8 2.5 8.4 60.3
2006 49,052 100.0 28.6 2.6 8.9 59.9
2007 54,568 100.0 28.4 2.6 9.1 59.9
2008 60,297 100.0 26.7 2.6 8.6 62.1
2009 66,791 100.0 24.9 2.5 8.8 63.8
2010 69,120 100.0 23.3 2.4 8.4 65.9
2011 65,673 100.0 22.8 2.4 8.2 66.6
2012 56,056 100.0 25.4 2.7 8.3 63.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2013. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2013.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the numbers and percentages will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or be subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Data include decisions for Social Security–only applications and applications for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); they do not include SSI-only claims.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
a. Includes applications for which the disability was previously established and those for which the basis for the determination is not available. The majority of applications for which the basis of determination is not available are cases allowed at or above the hearing level.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 65. Number and percentage distribution of final medical denials, by year of application and reason for denial, 1992–2012
Year Total Impairment did not or is not expected to last 12 months Impairment is not severe Able to do usual past work Able to do other type of work Other a
Number Percent
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 450,051 100.0 10.2 17.8 28.3 30.8 12.9
2000 460,284 100.0 10.0 17.2 28.2 30.4 14.1
2001 500,414 100.0 9.2 16.7 28.0 31.1 14.9
2002 584,497 100.0 8.5 17.1 28.2 31.3 14.9
2003 636,769 100.0 7.5 17.7 28.2 31.8 14.9
2004 686,621 100.0 6.8 18.4 27.6 31.6 15.6
2005 652,907 100.0 6.5 19.1 26.7 31.5 16.2
2006 664,915 100.0 6.2 19.7 26.3 31.5 16.3
2007 651,668 100.0 6.3 20.3 26.3 31.0 16.0
2008 667,582 100.0 5.8 21.4 25.9 31.3 15.5
2009 792,576 100.0 4.7 22.5 25.4 32.2 15.2
2010 841,664 100.0 4.2 23.6 24.5 31.8 15.9
2011 784,341 100.0 4.2 24.4 20.7 33.4 17.3
2012 669,775 100.0 4.6 25.2 16.5 37.3 16.4
  Workers
1992 487,164 100.0 10.7 22.9 28.4 29.6 8.4
1993 546,532 100.0 10.4 22.7 27.6 29.8 9.5
1994 578,664 100.0 10.2 21.5 25.9 28.8 13.6
1995 547,145 100.0 10.6 20.8 25.4 29.4 13.8
1996 542,493 100.0 10.2 19.6 24.7 30.6 14.8
1997 453,676 100.0 10.6 18.5 25.7 30.5 14.6
1998 426,158 100.0 10.8 18.3 27.8 30.8 12.3
1999 423,494 100.0 10.6 17.4 29.3 30.1 12.6
2000 434,363 100.0 10.4 16.8 29.3 29.7 13.9
2001 474,536 100.0 9.5 16.4 29.0 30.4 14.7
2002 554,996 100.0 8.8 16.8 29.2 30.6 14.7
2003 603,986 100.0 7.7 17.4 29.2 31.0 14.6
2004 651,066 100.0 7.0 18.1 28.6 30.9 15.4
2005 617,545 100.0 6.7 18.9 27.7 30.7 15.9
2006 624,298 100.0 6.5 19.5 27.4 30.7 15.9
2007 608,337 100.0 6.6 20.0 27.7 30.1 15.5
2008 623,225 100.0 6.1 21.2 27.4 30.3 15.1
2009 740,210 100.0 4.9 22.4 26.8 31.1 14.8
2010 784,674 100.0 4.4 23.5 25.9 30.6 15.6
2011 730,408 100.0 4.4 24.3 21.8 32.4 17.1
2012 621,037 100.0 4.8 25.0 17.5 36.6 16.1
  Widow(er)s
1999 9,735 100.0 5.6 29.0 31.8 22.7 10.8
2000 9,024 100.0 5.3 29.0 31.4 22.3 12.1
2001 8,751 100.0 4.7 27.6 31.2 22.8 13.7
2002 8,959 100.0 4.8 25.5 32.9 23.9 13.0
2003 9,577 100.0 4.2 25.7 33.1 23.7 13.3
2004 9,922 100.0 3.5 26.1 32.4 23.6 14.4
2005 9,581 100.0 3.6 26.2 32.3 23.3 14.6
2006 10,060 100.0 3.8 25.4 31.6 23.6 15.6
2007 9,126 100.0 3.7 27.1 31.3 22.0 15.8
2008 8,701 100.0 3.4 27.7 30.9 21.9 16.1
2009 8,999 100.0 2.8 28.8 30.3 22.2 15.9
2010 9,599 100.0 2.7 29.4 27.8 23.9 16.1
2011 9,285 100.0 3.0 28.5 27.2 24.7 16.6
2012 8,706 100.0 2.7 28.5 23.6 28.4 16.8
  Adult children
1999 16,822 100.0 3.1 22.7 0.7 53.3 20.2
2000 16,897 100.0 2.8 22.9 0.7 51.9 21.7
2001 17,127 100.0 2.5 21.3 0.9 52.9 22.3
2002 20,542 100.0 2.3 21.6 0.8 53.6 21.7
2003 23,206 100.0 2.0 21.8 0.7 53.6 21.9
2004 25,633 100.0 1.9 22.0 0.5 52.6 23.0
2005 25,781 100.0 1.8 21.1 0.4 53.0 23.6
2006 30,557 100.0 1.8 23.5 0.4 50.6 23.8
2007 34,205 100.0 1.6 23.9 0.3 50.0 24.1
2008 35,656 100.0 1.5 24.7 0.2 51.0 22.5
2009 43,367 100.0 1.2 23.4 0.1 53.5 21.8
2010 47,391 100.0 1.2 24.7 0.1 52.9 21.1
2011 44,648 100.0 1.0 26.2 0.0 52.0 20.7
2012 40,032 100.0 1.0 27.6 0.0 50.2 21.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2013. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2013.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the numbers and percentages will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or be subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Data include decisions for Social Security–only applications and applications for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); they do not include SSI-only claims.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
a. Applicant has an impairment resulting from drug addiction or alcoholism, provided insufficient medical evidence, failed to cooperate, failed to follow prescribed treatment, did not want to continue development of the claim, or returned to substantial work before disability could be established. Also includes cases denied at or above the hearing level for which the basis of determination is not available.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.