Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2017

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, 2007–2016

The final award rate for disabled-worker applicants has varied over time, averaging 33 percent for claims filed from 2007 through 2016. The percentage of applicants awarded benefits at the initial claims level averaged 22 percent over the same period and ranged from a high of 25 percent to a low of 20 percent. The percentage of applicants awarded at the reconsideration and hearing levels are averaging 2 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Denied disability claims have averaged 63 percent.

Area chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 11. Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2007–2016 (percent)
Year Initial awards Reconsideration awards Hearings and Appeals Council awards Pending final decision Medical denials Technical denials
2007 24.2 2.6 13.0 0.0 28.7 31.5
2008 24.9 2.6 12.2 0.0 27.8 32.6
2009 24.8 2.4 11.6 0.0 28.4 32.8
2010 22.9 2.2 11.1 0.2 28.5 35.2
2011 21.9 2.2 10.8 0.2 29.2 35.7
2012 21.3 2.2 10.0 0.4 29.0 37.2
2013 20.9 2.1 9.6 1.0 28.9 37.6
2014 20.6 2.2 7.9 4.5 27.0 37.8
2015 20.2 2.2 2.5 12.8 23.6 38.8
2016 20.0 1.8 0.2 15.5 22.8 39.7
 
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, 1992–2016
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 0 615,672 677,811 5,634 961,376 1,626 42.5 58.5
2005 2,087,733 0 528,760 642,170 6,964 907,877 1,962 43.5 58.4
2006 2,164,394 0 611,199 653,256 7,270 890,752 1,917 41.2 57.5
2007 2,216,564 0 651,753 641,810 7,914 913,269 1,818 41.2 58.5
2008 2,358,629 0 717,145 660,859 9,023 969,826 1,776 41.1 59.2
2009 2,753,012 0 845,259 789,845 10,689 1,105,371 1,848 40.2 58.0
2010 2,981,613 4,806 978,670 857,534 19,103 1,119,424 2,076 37.6 56.1
2011 2,952,087 6,790 981,984 867,920 20,786 1,072,543 2,064 36.4 54.7
2012 2,955,922 11,815 1,024,570 860,311 23,895 1,033,049 2,282 35.1 53.9
2013 2,790,681 27,919 971,172 809,205 25,097 955,039 2,249 34.6 53.4
2014 2,687,341 117,826 936,765 728,771 27,514 874,170 2,295 34.0 53.7
2015 2,539,462 312,783 903,970 602,165 29,557 688,683 2,304 30.9 52.2
2016 2,385,219 357,407 871,707 547,768 27,613 578,780 1,944 28.5 50.2
  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 0 611,647 643,040 5,582 883,784 1,576 41.2 57.8
2005 1,970,277 0 524,858 607,568 6,874 829,087 1,890 42.1 57.6
2006 2,040,682 0 606,435 613,407 7,164 811,818 1,858 39.8 56.8
2007 2,083,896 0 646,511 599,000 7,799 828,834 1,752 39.8 57.8
2008 2,217,126 0 711,547 616,798 8,892 878,180 1,709 39.6 58.4
2009 2,595,028 0 839,269 737,623 10,541 1,005,822 1,773 38.8 57.4
2010 2,809,477 4,690 968,187 800,392 18,502 1,015,698 2,008 36.2 55.4
2011 2,780,977 6,642 971,121 811,265 20,292 969,659 1,998 35.0 53.9
2012 2,776,214 11,541 1,009,155 804,066 22,802 926,490 2,160 33.5 52.9
2013 2,620,314 27,094 958,333 756,376 24,131 852,228 2,152 32.9 52.3
2014 2,523,711 114,216 924,683 681,728 26,455 774,416 2,213 32.1 52.3
2015 2,379,753 303,847 892,363 560,836 28,443 592,056 2,208 28.5 50.2
2016 2,242,686 347,571 861,173 511,166 26,650 494,273 1,853 26.1 48.0
  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 2,069 9,554 22 30,780 24 72.5 76.3
2005 41,409 0 1,892 9,253 26 30,215 23 73.0 76.6
2006 41,468 0 2,190 9,774 38 29,443 23 71.0 75.1
2007 40,781 0 2,211 8,975 28 29,540 27 72.4 76.7
2008 42,140 0 2,329 8,623 31 31,136 21 73.9 78.3
2009 44,059 0 2,551 8,948 43 32,497 20 73.8 78.3
2010 47,583 42 3,543 9,674 82 34,219 23 72.0 77.8
2011 47,011 43 3,499 9,791 74 33,570 34 71.5 77.3
2012 51,351 94 5,847 9,857 242 35,258 53 68.8 77.8
2013 49,596 260 5,113 9,845 262 34,073 43 69.1 77.1
2014 48,048 1,210 4,619 9,066 273 32,843 37 70.1 77.9
2015 45,113 3,272 4,457 7,570 315 29,462 37 70.4 78.9
2016 40,888 3,657 3,982 6,920 273 26,014 42 69.9 78.4
  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 1,956 25,217 30 46,812 26 63.2 65.0
2005 76,047 0 2,010 25,349 64 48,575 49 63.9 65.7
2006 82,244 0 2,574 30,075 68 49,491 36 60.2 62.2
2007 91,887 0 3,031 33,835 87 54,895 39 59.7 61.8
2008 99,363 0 3,269 35,438 100 60,510 46 60.9 63.0
2009 113,925 0 3,439 43,274 105 67,052 55 58.9 60.7
2010 124,553 74 6,940 47,468 519 69,507 45 55.8 59.2
2011 124,099 105 7,364 46,864 420 69,314 32 55.9 59.5
2012 128,357 180 9,568 46,388 851 71,301 69 55.6 60.2
2013 120,771 565 7,726 42,984 704 68,738 54 57.2 61.2
2014 115,582 2,400 7,463 37,977 786 66,911 45 59.1 63.3
2015 114,596 5,664 7,150 33,759 799 67,165 59 61.7 66.0
2016 101,645 6,179 6,552 29,682 690 58,493 49 61.3 65.8
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2017. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2017.
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, 1992–2016
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 1,646,469 604,176 36.7 814,157 389,190 47.8 832,312 214,986 25.8
2005 1,559,003 575,310 36.9 763,377 370,449 48.5 795,626 204,861 25.7
2006 1,553,228 562,208 36.2 753,222 363,226 48.2 800,006 198,982 24.9
2007 1,564,867 583,058 37.3 757,293 377,352 49.8 807,574 205,706 25.5
2008 1,641,527 635,391 38.7 783,509 408,880 52.2 858,018 226,511 26.4
2009 1,907,790 734,296 38.5 922,298 480,820 52.1 985,492 253,476 25.7
2010 2,002,942 738,967 36.9 990,922 496,158 50.1 1,012,020 242,809 24.0
2011 1,970,109 703,160 35.7 987,925 478,650 48.5 982,184 224,510 22.9
2012 1,931,352 688,978 35.7 989,519 474,730 48.0 941,833 214,248 22.7
2013 1,819,367 642,939 35.3 966,205 449,916 46.6 853,162 193,023 22.6
2014 1,749,906 614,889 35.1 980,890 441,328 45.0 769,016 173,561 22.6
2015 1,634,184 575,522 35.2 933,333 417,709 44.8 700,851 157,813 22.5
2016 1,508,910 533,759 35.4 877,179 389,878 44.4 631,731 143,881 22.8
  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 1,534,004 532,860 34.7 738,167 329,980 44.7 795,837 202,880 25.5
2005 1,445,449 502,762 34.8 686,143 309,900 45.2 759,306 192,862 25.4
2006 1,434,280 489,529 34.1 675,523 303,051 44.9 758,757 186,478 24.6
2007 1,437,439 505,946 35.2 676,178 314,355 46.5 761,261 191,591 25.2
2008 1,505,619 552,684 36.7 697,882 340,947 48.9 807,737 211,737 26.2
2009 1,755,795 644,601 36.7 830,714 407,806 49.1 925,081 236,795 25.6
2010 1,841,290 644,958 35.0 894,437 418,995 46.8 946,853 225,963 23.9
2011 1,809,866 610,168 33.7 890,633 401,202 45.0 919,233 208,966 22.7
2012 1,767,057 592,320 33.5 887,175 393,287 44.3 879,882 199,033 22.6
2013 1,661,839 549,139 33.0 866,930 370,471 42.7 794,909 178,668 22.5
2014 1,598,397 522,371 32.7 882,335 362,329 41.1 716,062 160,042 22.4
2015 1,486,199 482,675 32.5 834,931 337,821 40.5 651,268 144,854 22.2
2016 1,377,097 450,955 32.7 788,797 318,758 40.4 588,300 132,197 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 40,380 26,666 66.0 29,578 22,252 75.2 10,802 4,414 40.9
2005 39,517 26,265 66.5 29,201 22,023 75.4 10,316 4,242 41.1
2006 39,278 25,584 65.1 28,454 21,399 75.2 10,824 4,185 38.7
2007 38,570 25,546 66.2 27,586 21,181 76.8 10,984 4,365 39.7
2008 39,811 26,776 67.3 28,194 22,185 78.7 11,617 4,591 39.5
2009 41,508 27,812 67.0 28,929 22,797 78.8 12,579 5,015 39.9
2010 44,040 29,501 67.0 30,599 24,203 79.1 13,441 5,298 39.4
2011 43,512 28,695 65.9 30,384 23,798 78.3 13,128 4,897 37.3
2012 45,502 30,476 67.0 32,403 25,662 79.2 13,099 4,814 36.8
2013 44,484 29,525 66.4 31,754 25,004 78.7 12,730 4,521 35.5
2014 43,424 28,976 66.7 31,399 24,777 78.9 12,025 4,199 34.9
2015 40,635 27,525 67.7 29,543 23,593 79.9 11,092 3,932 35.4
2016 36,862 25,200 68.4 27,014 21,688 80.3 9,848 3,512 35.7
  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 72,085 44,650 61.9 46,412 36,958 79.6 25,673 7,692 30.0
2005 74,037 46,283 62.5 48,033 38,526 80.2 26,004 7,757 29.8
2006 79,670 47,095 59.1 49,245 38,776 78.7 30,425 8,319 27.3
2007 88,858 51,566 58.0 53,529 41,816 78.1 35,329 9,750 27.6
2008 96,097 55,931 58.2 57,433 45,748 79.7 38,664 10,183 26.3
2009 110,487 61,883 56.0 62,655 50,217 80.1 47,832 11,666 24.4
2010 117,612 64,508 54.8 65,886 52,960 80.4 51,726 11,548 22.3
2011 116,731 64,297 55.1 66,908 53,650 80.2 49,823 10,647 21.4
2012 118,793 66,182 55.7 69,941 55,781 79.8 48,852 10,401 21.3
2013 113,044 64,275 56.9 67,521 54,441 80.6 45,523 9,834 21.6
2014 108,085 63,542 58.8 67,156 54,222 80.7 40,929 9,320 22.8
2015 107,350 65,322 60.8 68,859 56,295 81.8 38,491 9,027 23.5
2016 94,951 57,604 60.7 61,368 49,432 80.6 33,583 8,172 24.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2017.
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, 1992–2016
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 558,632 57,363 10.3 255,283 29,169 11.4 303,349 28,194 9.3
2005 514,277 51,732 10.1 231,252 26,556 11.5 283,025 25,176 8.9
2006 514,442 51,156 9.9 227,921 26,078 11.4 286,521 25,078 8.8
2007 519,254 57,038 11.0 224,454 29,822 13.3 294,800 27,216 9.2
2008 546,426 59,258 10.8 222,900 29,958 13.4 323,526 29,300 9.1
2009 644,222 64,080 9.9 264,491 33,218 12.6 379,731 30,862 8.1
2010 706,069 63,196 9.0 299,818 34,294 11.4 406,251 28,902 7.1
2011 724,422 65,205 9.0 314,331 36,366 11.6 410,091 28,839 7.0
2012 714,075 62,595 8.8 316,690 34,966 11.0 397,385 27,629 7.0
2013 682,244 57,115 8.4 316,137 32,381 10.2 366,107 24,734 6.8
2014 644,031 58,166 9.0 316,370 34,516 10.9 327,661 23,650 7.2
2015 564,563 55,572 9.8 286,532 33,793 11.8 278,031 21,779 7.8
2016 445,260 41,139 9.2 233,205 26,062 11.2 212,055 15,077 7.1
  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 545,180 54,527 10.0 249,568 28,202 11.3 295,612 26,325 8.9
2005 501,374 49,029 9.8 225,707 25,640 11.4 275,667 23,389 8.5
2006 500,913 48,406 9.7 222,465 25,256 11.4 278,448 23,150 8.3
2007 503,473 54,434 10.8 218,683 28,950 13.2 284,790 25,484 8.9
2008 527,774 56,841 10.8 216,971 29,113 13.4 310,803 27,728 8.9
2009 621,675 61,284 9.9 258,018 32,315 12.5 363,657 28,969 8.0
2010 681,779 60,438 8.9 293,191 33,386 11.4 388,588 27,052 7.0
2011 699,624 62,397 8.9 307,190 35,407 11.5 392,434 26,990 6.9
2012 688,161 59,885 8.7 309,011 34,034 11.0 379,150 25,851 6.8
2013 657,695 54,687 8.3 308,934 31,555 10.2 348,761 23,132 6.6
2014 621,829 55,801 9.0 309,498 33,694 10.9 312,331 22,107 7.1
2015 545,041 53,265 9.8 280,423 32,959 11.8 264,618 20,306 7.7
2016 431,221 39,609 9.2 228,555 25,470 11.1 202,666 14,139 7.0
  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 6,475 1,549 23.9 3,457 597 17.3 3,018 952 31.5
2005 6,105 1,381 22.6 3,329 561 16.9 2,776 820 29.5
2006 5,985 1,308 21.9 3,120 461 14.8 2,865 847 29.6
2007 5,948 1,144 19.2 2,887 462 16.0 3,061 682 22.3
2008 6,347 922 14.5 2,858 392 13.7 3,489 530 15.2
2009 6,988 1,077 15.4 3,044 446 14.7 3,944 631 16.0
2010 7,359 1,055 14.3 3,073 463 15.1 4,286 592 13.8
2011 7,843 1,132 14.4 3,366 505 15.0 4,477 627 14.0
2012 8,134 1,113 13.7 3,541 477 13.5 4,593 636 13.8
2013 8,100 1,035 12.8 3,484 457 13.1 4,616 578 12.5
2014 7,827 1,044 13.3 3,417 475 13.9 4,410 569 12.9
2015 6,809 999 14.7 2,939 445 15.1 3,870 554 14.3
2016 5,005 667 13.3 2,167 311 14.4 2,838 356 12.5
  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 6,977 1,287 18.4 2,258 370 16.4 4,719 917 19.4
2005 6,798 1,322 19.4 2,216 355 16.0 4,582 967 21.1
2006 7,544 1,442 19.1 2,336 361 15.5 5,208 1,081 20.8
2007 9,833 1,460 14.8 2,884 410 14.2 6,949 1,050 15.1
2008 12,305 1,495 12.1 3,071 453 14.8 9,234 1,042 11.3
2009 15,559 1,719 11.0 3,429 457 13.3 12,130 1,262 10.4
2010 16,931 1,703 10.1 3,554 445 12.5 13,377 1,258 9.4
2011 16,955 1,676 9.9 3,775 454 12.0 13,180 1,222 9.3
2012 17,780 1,597 9.0 4,138 455 11.0 13,642 1,142 8.4
2013 16,449 1,393 8.5 3,719 369 9.9 12,730 1,024 8.0
2014 14,375 1,321 9.2 3,455 347 10.0 10,920 974 8.9
2015 12,713 1,308 10.3 3,170 389 12.3 9,543 919 9.6
2016 9,034 863 9.6 2,483 281 11.3 6,551 582 8.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2017.
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, 1992–2016
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 415,339 301,463 72.6 196,715 159,335 81.0 218,624 142,128 65.0
2005 384,341 282,797 73.6 178,312 145,587 81.6 206,029 137,210 66.6
2006 387,021 279,305 72.2 176,337 142,420 80.8 210,684 136,885 65.0
2007 387,412 274,991 71.0 169,876 136,134 80.1 217,536 138,857 63.8
2008 405,196 276,953 68.4 167,460 131,677 78.6 237,736 145,276 61.1
2009 482,354 308,843 64.0 200,289 150,075 74.9 282,065 158,768 56.3
2010 532,593 319,337 60.0 228,445 162,385 71.1 304,148 156,952 51.6
2011 547,263 306,242 56.0 238,228 159,390 66.9 309,035 146,852 47.5
2012 542,279 283,758 52.3 240,623 151,911 63.1 301,656 131,847 43.7
2013 509,396 257,234 50.5 236,895 142,840 60.3 272,501 114,394 42.0
2014 380,158 203,410 53.5 190,430 118,121 62.0 189,728 85,289 45.0
2015 113,368 59,893 52.8 60,953 36,608 60.1 52,415 23,285 44.4
2016 12,535 5,826 46.5 7,639 3,995 52.3 4,896 1,831 37.4
  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 410,160 297,973 72.6 193,481 156,966 81.1 216,679 141,007 65.1
2005 379,242 279,186 73.6 175,088 143,130 81.7 204,154 136,056 66.6
2006 381,766 275,741 72.2 173,088 140,092 80.9 208,678 135,649 65.0
2007 379,554 270,206 71.2 166,457 133,740 80.3 213,097 136,466 64.0
2008 393,926 270,364 68.6 163,638 128,924 78.8 230,288 141,440 61.4
2009 468,949 301,710 64.3 196,264 147,278 75.0 272,685 154,432 56.6
2010 518,284 312,310 60.3 224,249 159,605 71.2 294,035 152,705 51.9
2011 532,387 299,092 56.2 233,647 156,431 67.0 298,740 142,661 47.8
2012 525,945 276,445 52.6 235,636 148,869 63.2 290,309 127,576 43.9
2013 494,089 250,554 50.7 232,191 140,055 60.3 261,898 110,499 42.2
2014 369,723 198,457 53.7 186,887 115,915 62.0 182,836 82,542 45.1
2015 110,161 58,324 52.9 59,740 35,809 59.9 50,421 22,515 44.7
2016 12,076 5,562 46.1 7,371 3,785 51.3 4,705 1,777 37.8
  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 2,589 79.9 2,199 1,804 82.0 1,042 785 75.3
2005 3,187 2,592 81.3 2,166 1,814 83.7 1,021 778 76.2
2006 3,172 2,574 81.1 2,087 1,726 82.7 1,085 848 78.2
2007 3,642 2,877 79.0 1,960 1,601 81.7 1,682 1,276 75.9
2008 4,403 3,459 78.6 2,055 1,708 83.1 2,348 1,751 74.6
2009 4,775 3,628 76.0 2,126 1,742 81.9 2,649 1,886 71.2
2010 5,134 3,686 71.8 2,177 1,699 78.0 2,957 1,987 67.2
2011 5,377 3,777 70.2 2,353 1,767 75.1 3,024 2,010 66.5
2012 5,715 3,722 65.1 2,512 1,797 71.5 3,203 1,925 60.1
2013 5,691 3,556 62.5 2,458 1,699 69.1 3,233 1,857 57.4
2014 4,443 2,860 64.4 1,974 1,403 71.1 2,469 1,457 59.0
2015 1,440 975 67.7 703 541 77.0 737 434 58.9
2016 242 189 78.1 183 162 88.5 59 27 45.8
  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 1,938 901 46.5 1,035 565 54.6 903 336 37.2
2005 1,912 1,019 53.3 1,058 643 60.8 854 376 44.0
2006 2,083 990 47.5 1,162 602 51.8 921 388 42.1
2007 4,216 1,908 45.3 1,459 793 54.4 2,757 1,115 40.4
2008 6,867 3,130 45.6 1,767 1,045 59.1 5,100 2,085 40.9
2009 8,630 3,505 40.6 1,899 1,055 55.6 6,731 2,450 36.4
2010 9,175 3,341 36.4 2,019 1,081 53.5 7,156 2,260 31.6
2011 9,499 3,373 35.5 2,228 1,192 53.5 7,271 2,181 30.0
2012 10,619 3,591 33.8 2,475 1,245 50.3 8,144 2,346 28.8
2013 9,616 3,124 32.5 2,246 1,086 48.4 7,370 2,038 27.7
2014 5,992 2,093 34.9 1,569 803 51.2 4,423 1,290 29.2
2015 1,767 594 33.6 510 258 50.6 1,257 336 26.7
2016 217 75 34.6 85 48 56.5 132 27 20.5
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through July 2017.
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, 1992–2016
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 961,376 100.0 26.4 4.9 31.5 37.2
2005 907,877 100.0 26.5 4.7 32.0 36.8
2006 890,752 100.0 26.4 4.5 31.9 37.3
2007 913,269 100.0 26.1 4.6 32.7 36.6
2008 969,826 100.0 25.5 5.2 34.2 35.2
2009 1,105,371 100.0 24.3 5.2 35.7 34.8
2010 1,119,424 100.0 23.1 5.1 36.3 35.5
2011 1,072,543 100.0 22.4 5.0 37.6 34.9
2012 1,033,049 100.0 22.2 5.0 38.3 34.5
2013 955,039 100.0 22.6 4.8 37.5 35.1
2014 874,170 100.0 24.2 4.8 38.5 32.5
2015 688,683 100.0 30.0 5.5 44.5 20.1
2016 578,780 100.0 34.8 5.8 46.2 13.1
  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 883,784 100.0 26.7 5.2 32.9 35.2
2005 829,087 100.0 27.0 4.9 33.6 34.5
2006 811,818 100.0 26.9 4.7 33.5 34.9
2007 828,834 100.0 26.5 4.9 34.6 34.0
2008 878,180 100.0 26.0 5.5 36.2 32.3
2009 1,005,822 100.0 24.8 5.5 37.8 31.9
2010 1,015,698 100.0 23.6 5.4 38.6 32.4
2011 969,659 100.0 23.0 5.3 40.2 31.5
2012 926,490 100.0 22.8 5.3 41.2 30.6
2013 852,228 100.0 23.4 5.1 40.6 30.9
2014 774,416 100.0 25.3 5.2 41.9 27.6
2015 592,056 100.0 32.2 6.1 49.9 11.8
2016 494,273 100.0 37.8 6.5 52.3 3.4
  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 30,780 100.0 10.1 1.9 26.0 62.0
2005 30,215 100.0 9.7 1.7 25.5 63.1
2006 29,443 100.0 9.6 1.5 24.2 64.7
2007 29,540 100.0 9.1 1.6 24.3 64.9
2008 31,136 100.0 8.7 1.7 24.8 64.7
2009 32,497 100.0 8.1 1.9 26.0 63.9
2010 34,219 100.0 7.7 1.9 25.3 65.1
2011 33,570 100.0 7.8 1.7 25.3 65.3
2012 35,258 100.0 6.8 1.6 24.3 67.4
2013 34,073 100.0 6.2 1.6 23.1 69.1
2014 32,843 100.0 6.4 1.5 22.1 70.1
2015 29,462 100.0 7.1 1.4 23.0 68.4
2016 26,014 100.0 7.2 1.4 22.2 69.3
  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 46,812 100.0 30.1 2.7 8.5 58.6
2005 48,575 100.0 28.5 2.5 8.3 60.7
2006 49,491 100.0 28.4 2.6 8.8 60.2
2007 54,895 100.0 28.3 2.6 9.0 60.1
2008 60,510 100.0 26.6 2.5 8.6 62.2
2009 67,052 100.0 24.8 2.5 8.8 63.9
2010 69,507 100.0 23.2 2.3 8.3 66.1
2011 69,314 100.0 21.9 2.3 7.9 67.9
2012 71,301 100.0 21.5 2.2 7.3 69.0
2013 68,738 100.0 21.0 2.0 7.1 69.9
2014 66,911 100.0 20.9 1.9 6.6 70.5
2015 67,165 100.0 20.7 1.8 6.1 71.4
2016 58,493 100.0 22.5 1.7 5.7 70.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2017. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2017.
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, 1992–2016
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 683,445 100.0 6.8 18.4 27.6 31.5 15.7
2005 649,134 100.0 6.5 19.2 26.7 31.4 16.3
2006 660,526 100.0 6.3 19.8 26.2 31.3 16.4
2007 649,724 100.0 6.3 20.4 26.3 30.9 16.0
2008 669,882 100.0 5.8 21.4 26.0 31.3 15.5
2009 800,534 100.0 4.6 22.5 25.4 32.4 15.1
2010 876,637 100.0 4.1 23.4 24.7 32.3 15.6
2011 888,706 100.0 3.9 23.9 20.4 33.6 18.3
2012 884,206 100.0 3.8 24.8 16.2 38.9 16.3
2013 834,302 100.0 4.0 25.0 15.1 42.1 13.7
2014 756,285 100.0 4.1 25.1 13.6 41.4 15.7
2015 631,722 100.0 4.5 25.1 11.5 40.5 18.4
2016 575,381 100.0 4.8 24.1 10.6 41.1 19.5
  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 648,622 100.0 7.0 18.2 28.5 30.8 15.4
2005 614,442 100.0 6.7 19.0 27.7 30.6 16.0
2006 620,571 100.0 6.5 19.5 27.4 30.6 16.0
2007 606,799 100.0 6.6 20.1 27.7 30.0 15.6
2008 625,690 100.0 6.1 21.1 27.4 30.3 15.1
2009 748,164 100.0 4.9 22.3 26.8 31.2 14.7
2010 818,894 100.0 4.3 23.2 26.1 31.2 15.3
2011 831,557 100.0 4.1 23.7 21.4 32.6 18.2
2012 826,868 100.0 4.0 24.5 17.0 38.3 16.1
2013 780,507 100.0 4.2 24.8 15.8 41.7 13.4
2014 708,183 100.0 4.3 24.9 14.2 41.0 15.5
2015 589,279 100.0 4.8 24.8 12.1 40.1 18.3
2016 537,816 100.0 5.0 23.8 11.1 40.8 19.3
  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 9,576 100.0 3.6 26.5 32.2 23.0 14.7
2005 9,279 100.0 3.6 26.7 32.0 22.8 15.0
2006 9,812 100.0 3.8 25.7 31.6 23.1 15.9
2007 9,003 100.0 3.6 27.3 31.3 21.9 15.9
2008 8,654 100.0 3.3 27.8 30.8 21.9 16.2
2009 8,991 100.0 2.8 28.8 30.2 22.2 15.9
2010 9,756 100.0 2.7 29.4 27.9 23.9 16.0
2011 9,865 100.0 2.9 28.2 27.0 24.8 17.1
2012 10,099 100.0 2.4 28.8 23.5 28.4 17.0
2013 10,107 100.0 2.4 28.7 22.1 32.4 14.4
2014 9,339 100.0 2.4 27.9 21.4 32.2 16.2
2015 7,885 100.0 2.4 26.5 20.4 32.2 18.5
2016 7,193 100.0 2.6 25.3 18.1 34.2 19.8
  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 25,247 100.0 1.9 22.1 0.5 52.4 23.1
2005 25,413 100.0 1.8 21.3 0.4 52.8 23.8
2006 30,143 100.0 1.7 23.6 0.4 50.3 23.9
2007 33,922 100.0 1.6 24.0 0.3 49.9 24.2
2008 35,538 100.0 1.5 24.8 0.2 51.0 22.5
2009 43,379 100.0 1.2 23.4 0.1 53.5 21.8
2010 47,987 100.0 1.2 24.7 0.1 53.1 20.9
2011 47,284 100.0 1.0 26.2 0.0 52.6 20.2
2012 47,239 100.0 0.9 27.7 0.0 51.9 19.4
2013 43,688 100.0 0.9 28.1 0.0 52.1 18.9
2014 38,763 100.0 0.9 29.3 0.0 50.1 19.6
2015 34,558 100.0 0.9 29.8 0.0 48.5 20.8
2016 30,372 100.0 0.9 28.8 0.0 48.0 22.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2017. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2017.
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.