SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2009

Outcomes of Applications for Disability Benefits

Notes

The tables in this section provide data on the outcomes of applications for SSI benefits based on blindness or disability. The data on applications are derived from the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) Disability Research File (DRF) maintained by the Office of Disability Programs. Each year the DRF 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 69 shows the total number of applications filed in a year, the number that are pending a final decision, the number denied for nonmedical reasons before a medical decision is made (technical denials), 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 excess income.

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 decisionmaking 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 70–72 show the allowance rate for SSI only and the SSI portion of concurrent (a claim for both Social Security and SSI disability benefits) applications, one for each level in the administrative decisionmaking process, that is, initial, reconsideration, and hearing or higher level.

Beginning with fiscal year 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 reason for medical denial (Tables 73 and 74). The reasons are derived from the sequential evaluation process used by decisionmakers. 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
  • 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.
Table 69. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by age and year of application, 1992–2008
Year Total Pending final decision Technical denials a Medical decisions Award rate b (percent) Allowance rate c (percent)
Denials Allowances
Medical Subsequent nonmedical d Awards Subsequent denials e
All ages f
1992 1,828,951 0 134,438 741,839 1,556 860,875 90,243 47.1 56.1
1993 2,048,945 0 141,214 937,757 1,600 878,932 89,442 42.9 50.8
1994 2,014,499 0 123,175 1,041,432 1,681 770,905 77,306 38.3 44.8
1995 1,845,212 0 103,335 995,185 1,344 683,850 61,498 37.1 42.8
1996 1,786,770 0 113,027 938,407 1,886 671,900 61,550 37.6 43.8
1997 1,505,145 0 97,320 738,808 2,074 606,224 60,719 40.3 47.4
1998 1,520,538 0 95,990 701,331 3,831 656,567 62,819 43.2 50.5
1999 1,528,362 0 105,770 687,631 3,856 661,922 69,183 43.3 51.4
2000 1,612,878 0 156,447 688,986 3,818 690,508 73,119 42.8 52.4
2001 1,749,407 0 203,313 726,431 3,519 735,158 80,986 42.0 52.8
2002 1,958,790 3,063 278,217 808,378 3,572 776,488 89,072 39.7 51.6
2003 2,112,104 4,428 342,132 867,581 3,353 794,949 99,661 37.7 50.7
2004 2,245,536 8,131 431,054 899,603 3,221 801,873 101,654 35.8 50.0
2005 2,322,911 15,914 560,261 870,946 3,108 774,703 97,979 33.6 50.0
2006 2,419,039 41,854 637,973 881,960 2,945 759,738 94,569 32.0 49.1
2007 2,447,850 148,276 660,366 837,061 2,500 718,171 81,476 31.2 48.8
2008 2,537,438 328,941 650,934 809,350 1,911 676,432 69,870 30.6 47.9
Under age 18
1992 376,812 0 16,695 148,221 103 204,083 7,710 54.2 58.8
1993 500,676 0 18,788 240,668 135 232,344 8,741 46.4 50.0
1994 530,538 0 16,897 311,137 147 194,655 7,702 36.7 39.4
1995 491,638 0 14,364 306,298 92 163,896 6,988 33.3 35.8
1996 457,057 0 13,532 291,265 86 144,670 7,504 31.7 34.3
1997 334,975 0 10,906 195,730 69 121,439 6,831 36.3 39.6
1998 338,592 0 10,904 182,594 74 137,655 7,365 40.7 44.3
1999 345,076 0 11,897 182,289 69 142,700 8,121 41.4 45.3
2000 355,474 0 15,774 179,579 66 151,882 8,173 42.7 47.1
2001 375,950 0 18,708 182,107 61 166,262 8,812 44.2 49.0
2002 412,957 166 22,677 200,384 78 180,236 9,416 43.7 48.6
2003 438,572 208 25,776 214,456 65 188,064 10,003 42.9 48.0
2004 451,668 483 31,537 220,260 83 189,126 10,179 41.9 47.5
2005 445,100 1,131 46,751 209,559 101 177,327 10,231 39.9 47.2
2006 455,145 3,893 50,011 215,735 104 175,137 10,265 38.8 46.2
2007 458,454 14,038 53,237 208,065 102 173,125 9,887 39.0 46.8
2008 471,715 30,751 53,825 199,424 104 178,568 9,043 40.5 48.5
Aged 18–64
1992 1,451,417 0 117,675 593,455 1,451 656,374 82,462 45.2 55.4
1993 1,547,527 0 122,364 696,934 1,463 646,157 80,609 41.8 51.0
1994 1,482,503 0 106,181 729,927 1,529 575,431 69,435 38.8 46.9
1995 1,351,903 0 88,839 688,438 1,245 519,041 54,340 38.4 45.4
1996 1,277,604 0 87,869 646,497 1,534 488,215 53,489 38.2 45.5
1997 1,135,602 0 78,303 541,988 1,456 461,006 52,849 40.6 48.6
1998 1,133,015 0 76,709 516,676 1,860 483,898 53,872 42.7 50.9
1999 1,133,858 0 83,685 504,017 1,389 484,875 59,892 42.8 51.9
2000 1,208,918 0 127,891 508,383 1,415 507,262 63,967 42.0 52.8
2001 1,323,001 0 167,603 543,378 1,413 539,338 71,269 40.8 52.8
2002 1,483,558 2,896 230,046 606,928 1,560 563,459 78,669 38.1 51.3
2003 1,615,400 4,214 287,669 652,335 1,753 580,595 88,834 36.0 50.6
2004 1,732,620 7,643 365,943 678,715 1,815 587,729 90,775 34.1 49.9
2005 1,804,002 14,777 470,955 660,856 1,911 568,356 87,147 31.8 49.7
2006 1,891,892 37,954 542,481 665,754 1,959 560,028 83,716 30.2 49.1
2007 1,916,688 134,221 559,480 628,627 1,638 521,636 71,086 29.3 48.5
2008 1,993,129 298,157 549,130 609,665 1,198 474,554 60,425 28.0 46.7
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2009.
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.
Includes decisions for SSI-only applications and applications for both Social Security and SSI. Does not include Social Security–only applications.
a. Applications denied for nonmedical reasons so no decision was made on severity of impairment.
b. Rate determined by dividing awards by all applications minus pending claims for that year.
c. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
d. Applications denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that applicant did not meet the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
e. Applications denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that applicant met the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
f. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 70. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2008
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for SSI 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 (percent)
All ages b
1992 1,694,513 686,962 40.5 946,348 399,334 42.2 748,165 287,628 38.4
1993 1,907,731 687,630 36.0 1,106,624 409,102 37.0 801,107 278,528 34.8
1994 1,891,324 577,721 30.5 1,105,532 335,756 30.4 785,792 241,965 30.8
1995 1,741,877 507,742 29.1 1,037,201 291,168 28.1 704,676 216,574 30.7
1996 1,673,743 508,931 30.4 1,000,530 296,655 29.6 673,213 212,276 31.5
1997 1,407,825 459,297 32.6 820,527 260,354 31.7 587,298 198,943 33.9
1998 1,424,548 520,690 36.6 843,671 304,856 36.1 580,877 215,834 37.2
1999 1,422,592 532,125 37.4 843,211 314,190 37.3 579,381 217,935 37.6
2000 1,456,431 554,432 38.1 845,774 320,683 37.9 610,657 233,749 38.3
2001 1,546,094 592,932 38.4 860,944 337,508 39.2 685,150 255,424 37.3
2002 1,680,573 616,501 36.7 904,251 344,833 38.1 776,322 271,668 35.0
2003 1,769,972 631,320 35.7 917,456 343,711 37.5 852,516 287,609 33.7
2004 1,814,482 639,585 35.2 917,579 342,192 37.3 896,903 297,393 33.2
2005 1,762,650 616,349 35.0 888,937 328,359 36.9 873,713 287,990 33.0
2006 1,781,066 602,322 33.8 894,456 316,937 35.4 886,610 285,385 32.2
2007 1,787,442 607,664 34.0 900,974 320,768 35.6 886,468 286,896 32.4
2008 1,886,378 655,402 34.7 963,392 351,122 36.4 922,986 304,280 33.0
Under age 18
1992 360,117 194,494 54.0 329,316 176,929 53.7 30,801 17,565 57.0
1993 481,888 218,724 45.4 443,778 200,206 45.1 38,110 18,518 48.6
1994 513,641 177,660 34.6 475,233 164,436 34.6 38,408 13,224 34.4
1995 477,274 149,140 31.2 443,367 138,959 31.3 33,907 10,181 30.0
1996 443,525 133,375 30.1 413,379 124,846 30.2 30,146 8,529 28.3
1997 324,069 112,387 34.7 302,540 105,366 34.8 21,529 7,021 32.6
1998 327,688 129,729 39.6 306,164 121,371 39.6 21,524 8,358 38.8
1999 333,179 135,904 40.8 310,772 127,011 40.9 22,407 8,893 39.7
2000 339,700 143,488 42.2 316,325 133,675 42.3 23,375 9,813 42.0
2001 357,242 157,781 44.2 332,701 146,810 44.1 24,541 10,971 44.7
2002 390,280 170,519 43.7 363,007 158,369 43.6 27,273 12,150 44.5
2003 412,796 178,051 43.1 384,457 165,640 43.1 28,339 12,411 43.8
2004 420,131 180,180 42.9 391,024 167,412 42.8 29,107 12,768 43.9
2005 398,349 169,033 42.4 369,914 156,928 42.4 28,435 12,105 42.6
2006 405,134 166,092 41.0 376,681 154,486 41.0 28,453 11,606 40.8
2007 405,216 167,318 41.3 377,250 156,499 41.5 27,966 10,819 38.7
2008 417,882 177,328 42.4 392,296 167,828 42.8 25,586 9,500 37.1
Aged 18–64
1992 1,333,742 492,046 36.9 616,523 222,077 36.0 717,219 269,969 37.6
1993 1,425,163 468,477 32.9 662,298 208,554 31.5 762,865 259,923 34.1
1994 1,376,322 399,267 29.0 629,051 170,618 27.1 747,271 228,649 30.6
1995 1,263,064 357,732 28.3 592,390 151,417 25.6 670,674 206,315 30.8
1996 1,189,735 338,209 28.4 555,158 142,505 25.7 634,577 195,704 30.8
1997 1,057,299 324,213 30.7 498,637 139,003 27.9 558,662 185,210 33.2
1998 1,056,306 356,592 33.8 506,024 157,861 31.2 550,282 198,731 36.1
1999 1,050,173 361,925 34.5 503,041 162,487 32.3 547,132 199,438 36.5
2000 1,081,027 379,717 35.1 503,788 165,543 32.9 577,239 214,174 37.1
2001 1,155,398 405,803 35.1 505,146 171,400 33.9 650,252 234,403 36.0
2002 1,253,512 413,583 33.0 515,932 165,177 32.0 737,580 248,406 33.7
2003 1,327,731 427,173 32.2 515,627 163,726 31.8 812,104 263,447 32.4
2004 1,366,677 434,571 31.8 511,649 162,380 31.7 855,028 272,191 31.8
2005 1,333,047 418,474 31.4 501,512 156,015 31.1 831,535 262,459 31.6
2006 1,349,411 411,783 30.5 504,810 151,248 30.0 844,601 260,535 30.8
2007 1,357,168 417,007 30.7 512,723 154,650 30.2 844,445 262,357 31.1
2008 1,443,881 454,894 31.5 560,280 173,605 31.0 883,601 281,289 31.8
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2009.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 71. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2008
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for SSI 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 (percent)
All ages b
1992 479,152 74,500 15.5 234,057 38,371 16.4 245,095 36,129 14.7
1993 557,384 75,559 13.6 280,174 38,663 13.8 277,210 36,896 13.3
1994 571,602 73,734 12.9 290,341 36,826 12.7 281,261 36,908 13.1
1995 522,987 66,780 12.8 275,013 33,432 12.2 247,974 33,348 13.4
1996 480,593 65,352 13.6 249,224 32,510 13.0 231,369 32,842 14.2
1997 409,396 62,496 15.3 208,993 31,881 15.3 200,403 30,615 15.3
1998 390,212 61,264 15.7 203,132 31,818 15.7 187,080 29,446 15.7
1999 390,468 53,615 13.7 201,322 27,054 13.4 189,146 26,561 14.0
2000 394,662 52,629 13.3 197,882 25,712 13.0 196,780 26,917 13.7
2001 419,766 53,865 12.8 196,541 25,102 12.8 223,225 28,763 12.9
2002 472,269 56,809 12.0 209,695 25,555 12.2 262,574 31,254 11.9
2003 502,907 58,638 11.7 209,116 25,093 12.0 293,791 33,545 11.4
2004 503,680 56,253 11.2 200,185 23,442 11.7 303,495 32,811 10.8
2005 487,236 54,425 11.2 195,288 23,330 11.9 291,948 31,095 10.7
2006 498,326 55,269 11.1 199,663 23,462 11.8 298,663 31,807 10.6
2007 511,683 58,628 11.5 209,059 24,842 11.9 302,624 33,786 11.2
2008 507,518 48,831 9.6 214,954 22,154 10.3 292,564 26,677 9.1
Under age 18
1992 49,099 9,570 19.5 44,562 8,590 19.3 4,537 980 21.6
1993 75,816 11,440 15.1 69,176 10,355 15.0 6,640 1,085 16.3
1994 91,854 11,475 12.5 83,789 10,461 12.5 8,065 1,014 12.6
1995 86,651 10,459 12.1 79,397 9,625 12.1 7,254 834 11.5
1996 74,836 9,646 12.9 68,797 8,863 12.9 6,039 783 13.0
1997 51,365 8,583 16.7 47,131 7,883 16.7 4,234 700 16.5
1998 49,909 8,042 16.1 45,989 7,417 16.1 3,920 625 15.9
1999 49,830 6,889 13.8 45,781 6,272 13.7 4,049 617 15.2
2000 49,350 7,238 14.7 45,330 6,653 14.7 4,020 585 14.6
2001 50,676 7,474 14.7 46,575 6,850 14.7 4,101 624 15.2
2002 57,688 8,131 14.1 52,949 7,370 13.9 4,739 761 16.1
2003 61,737 8,724 14.1 56,681 7,925 14.0 5,056 799 15.8
2004 60,382 8,157 13.5 55,394 7,456 13.5 4,988 701 14.1
2005 57,383 8,228 14.3 52,552 7,530 14.3 4,831 698 14.4
2006 60,742 8,684 14.3 55,704 7,944 14.3 5,038 740 14.7
2007 61,805 8,833 14.3 56,899 8,183 14.4 4,906 650 13.2
2008 60,511 8,218 13.6 56,349 7,749 13.8 4,162 469 11.3
Aged 18–64
1992 429,944 64,891 15.1 189,409 29,744 15.7 240,535 35,147 14.6
1993 481,434 64,074 13.3 210,882 28,268 13.4 270,552 35,806 13.2
1994 479,439 62,150 13.0 206,253 26,260 12.7 273,186 35,890 13.1
1995 435,988 56,205 12.9 195,281 23,695 12.1 240,707 32,510 13.5
1996 403,309 54,194 13.4 178,404 22,457 12.6 224,905 31,737 14.1
1997 355,514 52,588 14.8 159,694 22,951 14.4 195,820 29,637 15.1
1998 337,411 51,757 15.3 154,436 23,051 14.9 182,975 28,706 15.7
1999 338,810 45,949 13.6 153,831 20,069 13.0 184,979 25,880 14.0
2000 343,707 44,723 13.0 151,099 18,487 12.2 192,608 26,236 13.6
2001 367,515 45,698 12.4 148,582 17,688 11.9 218,933 28,010 12.8
2002 412,619 47,773 11.6 155,025 17,457 11.3 257,594 30,316 11.8
2003 439,703 49,291 11.2 151,200 16,697 11.0 288,503 32,594 11.3
2004 442,103 47,567 10.8 143,824 15,620 10.9 298,279 31,947 10.7
2005 428,808 45,568 10.6 141,922 15,358 10.8 286,886 30,210 10.5
2006 436,664 46,014 10.5 143,274 15,139 10.6 293,390 30,875 10.5
2007 449,098 49,310 11.0 151,636 16,388 10.8 297,462 32,922 11.1
2008 446,333 40,128 9.0 158,178 14,142 8.9 288,155 25,986 9.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2009.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or 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.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 72. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2008
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for SSI 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 (percent)
All ages b
1992 280,751 189,656 67.6 128,789 79,307 61.6 151,962 110,349 72.6
1993 327,271 205,185 62.7 153,126 85,195 55.6 174,145 119,990 68.9
1994 333,329 196,756 59.0 156,584 80,594 51.5 176,745 116,162 65.7
1995 300,958 170,826 56.8 145,570 70,445 48.4 155,388 100,381 64.6
1996 271,977 159,167 58.5 128,712 64,430 50.1 143,265 94,737 66.1
1997 238,765 145,150 60.8 112,218 59,766 53.3 126,547 85,384 67.5
1998 224,761 137,432 61.1 107,693 58,028 53.9 117,068 79,404 67.8
1999 239,311 145,365 60.7 114,813 60,848 53.0 124,498 84,517 67.9
2000 260,705 156,566 60.1 123,948 64,520 52.1 136,757 92,046 67.3
2001 283,061 169,347 59.8 126,511 65,125 51.5 156,550 104,222 66.6
2002 317,990 192,250 60.5 133,589 68,808 51.5 184,401 123,442 66.9
2003 335,681 204,652 61.0 130,092 67,004 51.5 205,589 137,648 67.0
2004 334,197 207,689 62.1 122,597 64,217 52.4 211,600 143,472 67.8
2005 315,576 201,908 64.0 116,066 62,841 54.1 199,510 139,067 69.7
2006 298,923 196,716 65.8 108,519 60,881 56.1 190,404 135,835 71.3
2007 202,104 133,355 66.0 74,861 41,999 56.1 127,243 91,356 71.8
2008 65,652 42,069 64.1 26,050 13,672 52.5 39,602 28,397 71.7
Under age 18
1992 19,988 7,729 38.7 17,979 6,890 38.3 2,009 839 41.8
1993 31,658 10,921 34.5 28,625 9,784 34.2 3,033 1,137 37.5
1994 38,751 13,222 34.1 34,869 11,860 34.0 3,882 1,362 35.1
1995 35,856 11,285 31.5 32,428 10,131 31.2 3,428 1,154 33.7
1996 28,105 9,153 32.6 25,589 8,295 32.4 2,516 858 34.1
1997 19,549 7,300 37.3 17,723 6,594 37.2 1,826 706 38.7
1998 18,904 7,249 38.3 17,199 6,550 38.1 1,705 699 41.0
1999 21,333 8,028 37.6 19,380 7,235 37.3 1,953 793 40.6
2000 25,195 9,329 37.0 22,913 8,397 36.6 2,282 932 40.8
2001 26,830 9,819 36.6 24,488 8,877 36.3 2,342 942 40.2
2002 30,327 11,002 36.3 27,695 9,954 35.9 2,632 1,048 39.8
2003 31,337 11,292 36.0 28,524 10,172 35.7 2,813 1,120 39.8
2004 30,167 10,968 36.4 27,438 9,827 35.8 2,729 1,141 41.8
2005 27,546 10,297 37.4 25,022 9,207 36.8 2,524 1,090 43.2
2006 26,278 10,626 40.4 23,906 9,540 39.9 2,372 1,086 45.8
2007 16,859 6,861 40.7 15,338 6,192 40.4 1,521 669 44.0
2008 5,262 2,065 39.2 4,888 1,920 39.3 374 145 38.8
Aged 18–64
1992 260,727 181,899 69.8 110,785 72,398 65.4 149,942 109,501 73.0
1993 295,551 194,215 65.7 124,445 75,368 60.6 171,106 118,847 69.5
1994 294,441 183,449 62.3 121,584 68,654 56.5 172,857 114,795 66.4
1995 264,954 159,444 60.2 113,002 60,224 53.3 151,952 99,220 65.3
1996 243,064 149,301 61.4 102,414 55,516 54.2 140,650 93,785 66.7
1997 218,255 137,054 62.8 93,599 52,430 56.0 124,656 84,624 67.9
1998 204,894 129,421 63.2 89,580 50,760 56.7 115,314 78,661 68.2
1999 217,372 136,893 63.0 94,868 53,201 56.1 122,504 83,692 68.3
2000 234,888 146,789 62.5 100,457 55,710 55.5 134,431 91,079 67.8
2001 255,641 159,106 62.2 101,477 55,857 55.0 154,164 103,249 67.0
2002 286,912 180,772 63.0 105,190 58,411 55.5 181,722 122,361 67.3
2003 303,752 192,965 63.5 101,041 56,489 55.9 202,711 136,476 67.3
2004 303,536 196,366 64.7 94,718 54,068 57.1 208,818 142,298 68.1
2005 287,772 191,461 66.5 90,818 53,506 58.9 196,954 137,955 70.0
2006 272,437 185,947 68.3 84,436 51,226 60.7 188,001 134,721 71.7
2007 185,082 126,405 68.3 59,384 35,737 60.2 125,698 90,668 72.1
2008 60,303 39,957 66.3 21,090 11,718 55.6 39,213 28,239 72.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2009.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or 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.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 73. Percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by age, year of application, and reason for allowance, 1992–2008
Year Total Meets level of severity of listings a Under age 18 only Aged 18 or older only Other a,b
Number Percent Medically equals level of severity of listings Functionally equals level of severity of listings Equals level of severity of listings Medical and vocational factors considered
All ages c
1992 951,118 100.0 36.6 1.5 1.3 7.5 18.6 34.4
1993 968,374 100.0 36.5 1.5 1.6 5.5 17.4 37.6
1994 848,211 100.0 36.8 1.5 2.1 4.4 18.1 37.1
1995 745,348 100.0 35.8 1.6 2.5 4.3 18.6 37.2
1996 733,450 100.0 35.9 1.8 3.3 4.4 17.4 37.2
1997 666,943 100.0 37.6 1.8 4.3 4.7 18.4 33.3
1998 719,386 100.0 38.2 1.9 4.8 4.2 20.0 30.9
1999 731,105 100.0 36.5 2.0 5.3 3.9 20.8 31.4
2000 763,627 100.0 35.0 1.9 6.1 4.2 21.4 31.4
2001 816,144 100.0 34.7 1.8 6.9 4.2 22.1 30.3
2002 865,560 100.0 33.0 1.7 7.9 3.7 21.6 32.2
2003 894,610 100.0 32.1 1.6 8.7 3.6 21.9 32.1
2004 903,527 100.0 31.3 1.5 9.3 3.6 22.5 31.9
2005 872,682 100.0 30.6 1.4 9.5 3.4 22.9 32.3
2006 854,307 100.0 30.4 1.3 10.1 3.4 22.6 32.3
2007 799,647 100.0 32.2 1.4 11.2 3.7 24.7 26.9
2008 746,302 100.0 35.9 1.5 12.4 4.5 28.9 16.7
Under age 18
1992 211,793 100.0 48.3 6.9 5.9 . . . . . . 38.9
1993 241,085 100.0 44.9 5.9 6.4 . . . . . . 42.7
1994 202,357 100.0 45.6 6.5 8.6 . . . . . . 39.3
1995 170,884 100.0 44.8 7.0 11.0 . . . . . . 37.2
1996 152,174 100.0 52.7 8.7 16.0 . . . . . . 22.6
1997 128,270 100.0 55.8 9.2 22.1 . . . . . . 12.9
1998 145,020 100.0 55.6 9.6 23.6 . . . . . . 11.2
1999 150,821 100.0 53.1 9.7 25.8 . . . . . . 11.4
2000 160,055 100.0 50.1 9.2 28.9 . . . . . . 11.8
2001 175,074 100.0 48.2 8.2 32.4 . . . . . . 11.2
2002 189,652 100.0 45.2 7.6 35.8 . . . . . . 11.3
2003 198,067 100.0 43.5 7.4 39.3 . . . . . . 9.8
2004 199,305 100.0 42.0 6.6 42.3 . . . . . . 9.1
2005 187,558 100.0 39.9 6.5 44.2 . . . . . . 9.4
2006 185,402 100.0 38.0 5.9 46.4 . . . . . . 9.6
2007 183,012 100.0 37.5 5.9 48.9 . . . . . . 7.7
2008 187,611 100.0 39.1 6.0 49.5 . . . . . . 5.4
Aged 18–64
1992 738,836 100.0 33.3 . . . . . . 9.7 23.9 33.2
1993 726,766 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 7.3 23.1 35.9
1994 644,866 100.0 34.0 . . . . . . 5.8 23.8 36.4
1995 573,381 100.0 33.2 . . . . . . 5.6 24.0 37.2
1996 541,704 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 5.9 23.3 37.1
1997 513,855 100.0 34.5 . . . . . . 6.1 22.6 36.9
1998 537,770 100.0 35.5 . . . . . . 5.5 23.9 35.1
1999 544,767 100.0 33.9 . . . . . . 5.2 25.0 35.8
2000 571,229 100.0 32.5 . . . . . . 5.5 26.3 35.7
2001 610,607 100.0 32.3 . . . . . . 5.5 27.7 34.5
2002 642,128 100.0 31.0 . . . . . . 5.0 27.3 36.8
2003 669,429 100.0 29.9 . . . . . . 4.8 28.0 37.4
2004 678,504 100.0 29.2 . . . . . . 4.7 29.0 37.0
2005 655,503 100.0 29.2 . . . . . . 4.6 29.5 36.8
2006 643,744 100.0 29.3 . . . . . . 4.4 29.4 36.9
2007 592,722 100.0 31.7 . . . . . . 5.0 32.7 30.5
2008 534,979 100.0 36.3 . . . . . . 6.3 39.8 17.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2009.
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 subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Includes decisions for SSI-only applications and applications for both Social Security and SSI. Does not include Social Security–only applications.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Includes all age groups.
b. Includes applications for which the disability was previously established and those for which the basis for the determination is not available. For final determinations made in or before August 1996 for applicants under age 18, also includes applications allowed because individual functional assessment showed impairment of comparable severity.
c. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 74. Percentage distribution of final medical denials, by age, year of application, and reason for denial, 1992–2008
Year Total Impairment did not or is not expected to last 12 months Impairment is not severe Impairment does not cause severe functional limitations a Able to do usual past work b Able to do other type of work b Other c
Number Percent
All ages d
1992 743,395 100.0 7.3 22.1 . . . 17.5 26.3 26.9
1993 939,357 100.0 6.6 21.2 . . . 15.4 24.8 31.9
1994 1,043,113 100.0 6.2 20.7 . . . 13.6 23.3 36.1
1995 996,529 100.0 6.2 19.7 . . . 12.4 22.4 39.2
1996 940,293 100.0 6.4 20.6 5.8 12.1 22.9 32.2
1997 740,882 100.0 6.8 16.7 16.2 13.0 25.1 22.1
1998 705,162 100.0 6.9 15.0 18.3 14.7 25.4 19.9
1999 691,487 100.0 6.6 14.0 19.1 15.5 24.5 20.2
2000 692,804 100.0 6.5 13.3 18.7 15.8 24.2 21.5
2001 729,950 100.0 6.1 13.2 18.2 16.6 26.1 19.8
2002 811,950 100.0 5.7 13.0 18.2 17.0 26.5 19.6
2003 870,934 100.0 5.1 12.1 18.7 17.1 27.3 19.7
2004 902,824 100.0 4.8 11.3 18.7 16.8 27.7 20.8
2005 874,054 100.0 4.5 11.2 18.1 16.3 27.8 22.1
2006 884,905 100.0 4.4 11.4 18.5 16.1 27.7 21.9
2007 839,561 100.0 4.4 11.1 18.8 16.2 27.1 22.3
2008 811,261 100.0 4.3 10.7 18.9 16.4 27.0 22.9
Under age 18
1992 148,324 100.0 1.5 22.7 . . . . . . . . . 75.8
1993 240,803 100.0 1.3 21.8 . . . . . . . . . 76.9
1994 311,284 100.0 1.4 22.4 . . . . . . . . . 76.2
1995 306,390 100.0 1.3 21.8 . . . . . . . . . 76.9
1996 291,351 100.0 1.4 26.9 18.7 . . . . . . 53.0
1997 195,799 100.0 1.6 19.1 61.4 . . . . . . 18.0
1998 182,668 100.0 1.3 14.4 70.6 . . . . . . 13.7
1999 182,358 100.0 1.1 13.3 72.4 . . . . . . 13.2
2000 179,645 100.0 1.1 13.2 72.1 . . . . . . 13.6
2001 182,168 100.0 1.1 14.0 73.0 . . . . . . 11.9
2002 200,462 100.0 1.0 13.4 73.9 . . . . . . 11.8
2003 214,521 100.0 0.9 12.3 75.9 . . . . . . 10.9
2004 220,343 100.0 0.8 11.0 76.4 . . . . . . 11.8
2005 209,660 100.0 0.9 11.0 75.5 . . . . . . 12.6
2006 215,839 100.0 0.8 11.4 75.8 . . . . . . 12.1
2007 208,167 100.0 0.8 11.4 76.0 . . . . . . 11.8
2008 199,528 100.0 0.9 11.0 76.7 . . . . . . 11.5
Aged 18–64
1992 594,906 100.0 8.8 21.9 . . . 21.8 32.8 14.7
1993 698,397 100.0 8.4 21.0 . . . 20.7 33.4 16.4
1994 731,456 100.0 8.3 20.0 . . . 19.4 33.2 19.1
1995 689,683 100.0 8.4 18.8 . . . 17.9 32.4 22.5
1996 648,031 100.0 8.6 17.8 . . . 17.5 33.3 22.8
1997 543,444 100.0 8.8 15.8 . . . 17.7 34.2 23.6
1998 518,536 100.0 8.9 14.9 . . . 19.7 34.4 22.0
1999 505,406 100.0 8.7 14.1 . . . 21.0 33.5 22.7
2000 509,798 100.0 8.4 13.2 . . . 21.3 32.9 24.3
2001 544,791 100.0 7.8 12.8 . . . 22.1 35.0 22.3
2002 608,488 100.0 7.3 12.7 . . . 22.5 35.4 22.1
2003 654,088 100.0 6.5 11.9 . . . 22.7 36.4 22.5
2004 680,530 100.0 6.1 11.4 . . . 22.2 36.7 23.6
2005 662,767 100.0 5.7 11.2 . . . 21.4 36.7 25.0
2006 667,713 100.0 5.5 11.3 . . . 21.3 36.7 25.1
2007 630,265 100.0 5.6 11.0 . . . 21.6 36.1 25.7
2008 610,863 100.0 5.4 10.5 . . . 21.7 35.8 26.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2009.
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 subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Includes decisions for SSI-only applications and applications for both Social Security and SSI. Does not include Social Security–only applications.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Used only for applicants under age 18. Category effective for final determinations made August 1996 or later.
b. Used only for applicants aged 18 or older.
c. Applicant provided insufficient 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. For final determinations made August 1996 or before for applicants under age 18, also includes claims denied because individual functional assessment showed impairment not of comparable severity.
d. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.