Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2018

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, 2008–2017

The final award rate for disabled-worker applicants has varied over time, averaging 33 percent for claims filed from 2008 through 2017. 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 64 percent.

Area chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 11. Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2008–2017 (percent)
Year Initial awards Reconsideration awards Hearings and Appeals Council awards Pending final decision Medical denials Technical denials
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 0.0 28.6 35.2
2011 21.9 2.2 10.8 0.2 29.2 35.7
2012 21.3 2.2 10.1 0.3 29.0 37.2
2013 20.9 2.1 9.8 0.4 29.3 37.6
2014 20.6 2.2 9.2 0.9 29.3 37.8
2015 20.3 2.2 7.7 3.2 27.9 38.7
2016 20.3 2.2 3.3 10.6 24.2 39.4
2017 20.3 1.7 0.4 14.7 22.9 40.1
 
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, 1992–2017
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 2,216,565 0 651,753 641,811 7,914 913,269 1,818 41.2 58.5
2008 2,358,629 0 717,133 660,762 9,023 969,935 1,776 41.1 59.2
2009 2,753,012 0 845,213 789,600 10,688 1,105,663 1,848 40.2 58.1
2010 2,981,613 0 978,657 861,857 19,097 1,119,927 2,075 37.6 56.0
2011 2,952,087 5,450 981,943 868,153 20,774 1,073,705 2,062 36.4 54.8
2012 2,955,922 7,618 1,024,501 861,885 23,864 1,035,772 2,282 35.1 54.0
2013 2,790,680 12,103 971,096 820,040 25,035 960,161 2,245 34.6 53.2
2014 2,687,338 23,908 936,915 789,043 27,165 908,021 2,286 34.1 52.7
2015 2,547,661 79,755 904,240 710,383 27,935 823,035 2,313 33.3 52.8
2016 2,422,539 248,982 875,089 589,373 29,145 677,870 2,080 31.2 52.4
2017 2,258,949 320,565 829,717 520,862 28,175 557,804 1,826 28.8 50.5
  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 2,083,897 0 646,511 599,001 7,799 828,834 1,752 39.8 57.8
2008 2,217,126 0 711,536 616,715 8,892 878,274 1,709 39.6 58.4
2009 2,595,028 0 839,226 737,401 10,540 1,006,088 1,773 38.8 57.4
2010 2,809,477 0 968,175 804,621 18,496 1,016,177 2,008 36.2 55.3
2011 2,780,977 5,332 971,079 811,500 20,280 970,789 1,997 35.0 53.9
2012 2,776,214 7,439 1,009,093 805,631 22,774 929,117 2,160 33.6 52.9
2013 2,620,313 11,779 958,261 766,893 24,071 857,161 2,148 32.9 52.1
2014 2,523,708 23,263 924,812 740,177 26,118 807,133 2,205 32.3 51.4
2015 2,383,369 77,139 892,544 665,509 26,872 719,092 2,213 31.2 51.0
2016 2,272,123 241,523 864,226 550,880 28,110 585,414 1,970 28.8 50.4
2017 2,117,725 311,214 819,677 485,748 27,239 472,091 1,756 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 8,622 31 31,137 21 73.9 78.3
2009 44,059 0 2,551 8,944 43 32,501 20 73.8 78.3
2010 47,583 0 3,543 9,710 82 34,225 23 71.9 77.8
2011 47,011 34 3,499 9,789 74 33,581 34 71.5 77.3
2012 51,351 57 5,847 9,861 242 35,291 53 68.8 77.8
2013 49,596 104 5,112 9,928 261 34,148 43 69.0 77.0
2014 48,048 206 4,622 9,563 268 33,352 37 69.7 77.3
2015 45,839 809 4,470 8,430 294 31,799 37 70.6 78.5
2016 42,363 2,649 4,086 7,201 272 28,110 45 70.8 79.0
2017 38,889 3,349 3,719 6,422 292 25,081 26 70.6 78.9
  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 1,956 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 3,268 35,425 100 60,524 46 60.9 63.0
2009 113,925 0 3,436 43,255 105 67,074 55 58.9 60.8
2010 124,553 0 6,939 47,526 519 69,525 44 55.8 59.2
2011 124,099 84 7,365 46,864 420 69,335 31 55.9 59.5
2012 128,357 122 9,561 46,393 848 71,364 69 55.7 60.2
2013 120,771 220 7,723 43,219 703 68,852 54 57.1 61.1
2014 115,582 439 7,481 39,303 779 67,536 44 58.7 62.8
2015 118,453 1,807 7,226 36,444 769 72,144 63 61.8 66.0
2016 108,053 4,810 6,777 31,292 763 64,346 65 62.3 66.8
2017 102,335 6,002 6,321 28,692 644 60,632 44 62.9 67.4
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2018. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2018.
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, 1992–2017
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 1,564,868 583,058 37.3 757,294 377,352 49.8 807,574 205,706 25.5
2008 1,641,539 635,422 38.7 783,521 408,893 52.2 858,018 226,529 26.4
2009 1,907,836 734,377 38.5 922,344 480,869 52.1 985,492 253,508 25.7
2010 2,003,002 739,033 36.9 990,982 496,197 50.1 1,012,020 242,836 24.0
2011 1,970,158 703,235 35.7 987,974 478,703 48.5 982,184 224,532 22.9
2012 1,931,430 689,089 35.7 989,598 474,797 48.0 941,832 214,292 22.8
2013 1,819,547 643,187 35.3 966,385 450,077 46.6 853,162 193,110 22.6
2014 1,750,343 615,370 35.2 981,331 441,660 45.0 769,012 173,710 22.6
2015 1,642,927 582,135 35.4 940,830 423,495 45.0 702,097 158,640 22.6
2016 1,546,268 550,971 35.6 897,544 402,306 44.8 648,724 148,665 22.9
2017 1,424,640 514,906 36.1 826,746 376,048 45.5 597,894 138,858 23.2
  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 1,437,440 505,946 35.2 676,179 314,355 46.5 761,261 191,591 25.2
2008 1,505,630 552,705 36.7 697,893 340,958 48.9 807,737 211,747 26.2
2009 1,755,838 644,664 36.7 830,757 407,850 49.1 925,081 236,814 25.6
2010 1,841,345 645,015 35.0 894,492 419,030 46.8 946,853 225,985 23.9
2011 1,809,913 610,233 33.7 890,680 401,247 45.0 919,233 208,986 22.7
2012 1,767,127 592,401 33.5 887,246 393,336 44.3 879,881 199,065 22.6
2013 1,662,010 549,354 33.1 867,101 370,614 42.7 794,909 178,740 22.5
2014 1,598,818 522,801 32.7 882,760 362,635 41.1 716,058 160,166 22.4
2015 1,490,369 485,206 32.6 838,277 339,763 40.5 652,092 145,443 22.3
2016 1,406,797 462,449 32.9 803,458 326,131 40.6 603,339 136,318 22.6
2017 1,293,640 430,877 33.3 737,016 303,165 41.1 556,624 127,712 22.9
  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 26,777 67.3 28,194 22,185 78.7 11,617 4,592 39.5
2009 41,508 27,814 67.0 28,929 22,797 78.8 12,579 5,017 39.9
2010 44,040 29,501 67.0 30,599 24,203 79.1 13,441 5,298 39.4
2011 43,512 28,698 66.0 30,384 23,801 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 44,487 29,531 66.4 31,757 25,008 78.7 12,730 4,523 35.5
2014 43,429 28,989 66.8 31,404 24,787 78.9 12,025 4,202 34.9
2015 41,367 28,169 68.1 30,274 24,228 80.0 11,093 3,941 35.5
2016 38,261 26,100 68.2 28,080 22,450 80.0 10,181 3,650 35.9
2017 35,129 24,322 69.2 26,002 21,103 81.2 9,127 3,219 35.3
  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 96,098 55,940 58.2 57,434 45,750 79.7 38,664 10,190 26.4
2009 110,490 61,899 56.0 62,658 50,222 80.2 47,832 11,677 24.4
2010 117,617 64,517 54.9 65,891 52,964 80.4 51,726 11,553 22.3
2011 116,733 64,304 55.1 66,910 53,655 80.2 49,823 10,649 21.4
2012 118,801 66,212 55.7 69,949 55,799 79.8 48,852 10,413 21.3
2013 113,050 64,302 56.9 67,527 54,455 80.6 45,523 9,847 21.6
2014 108,096 63,580 58.8 67,167 54,238 80.8 40,929 9,342 22.8
2015 111,191 68,760 61.8 72,279 59,504 82.3 38,912 9,256 23.8
2016 101,210 62,422 61.7 66,006 53,725 81.4 35,204 8,697 24.7
2017 95,871 59,707 62.3 63,728 51,780 81.3 32,143 7,927 24.7
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2018.
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, 1992–2017
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 59,255 10.8 222,900 29,954 13.4 323,526 29,301 9.1
2009 644,224 64,087 9.9 264,493 33,217 12.6 379,731 30,870 8.1
2010 706,098 63,201 9.0 299,847 34,300 11.4 406,251 28,901 7.1
2011 724,423 65,188 9.0 314,332 36,367 11.6 410,091 28,821 7.0
2012 714,079 62,532 8.8 316,694 34,938 11.0 397,385 27,594 6.9
2013 682,276 56,712 8.3 316,168 32,196 10.2 366,108 24,516 6.7
2014 644,137 56,651 8.8 316,477 33,626 10.6 327,660 23,025 7.0
2015 571,979 55,595 9.7 290,958 33,525 11.5 281,021 22,070 7.9
2016 525,007 52,434 10.0 271,852 32,474 11.9 253,155 19,960 7.9
2017 398,812 36,950 9.3 207,789 23,421 11.3 191,023 13,529 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 56,838 10.8 216,971 29,111 13.4 310,803 27,727 8.9
2009 621,676 61,289 9.9 258,019 32,314 12.5 363,657 28,975 8.0
2010 681,806 60,438 8.9 293,218 33,391 11.4 388,588 27,047 7.0
2011 699,625 62,378 8.9 307,191 35,410 11.5 392,434 26,968 6.9
2012 688,165 59,816 8.7 309,015 34,002 11.0 379,150 25,814 6.8
2013 657,724 54,292 8.3 308,963 31,372 10.2 348,761 22,920 6.6
2014 621,924 54,316 8.7 309,595 32,827 10.6 312,329 21,489 6.9
2015 551,757 53,211 9.6 284,516 32,683 11.5 267,241 20,528 7.7
2016 507,190 50,341 9.9 266,036 31,725 11.9 241,154 18,616 7.7
2017 385,548 35,502 9.2 203,408 22,844 11.2 182,140 12,658 6.9
  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 6,347 921 14.5 2,858 391 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 3,073 462 15.0 4,286 593 13.8
2011 7,843 1,132 14.4 3,366 504 15.0 4,477 628 14.0
2012 8,134 1,114 13.7 3,541 479 13.5 4,593 635 13.8
2013 8,101 1,026 12.7 3,485 454 13.0 4,616 572 12.4
2014 7,829 1,021 13.0 3,419 462 13.5 4,410 559 12.7
2015 6,919 997 14.4 3,030 435 14.4 3,889 562 14.5
2016 6,242 830 13.3 2,734 383 14.0 3,508 447 12.7
2017 4,430 568 12.8 1,920 279 14.5 2,510 289 11.5
  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 1,496 12.2 3,071 452 14.7 9,234 1,044 11.3
2009 15,560 1,721 11.1 3,430 457 13.3 12,130 1,264 10.4
2010 16,933 1,708 10.1 3,556 447 12.6 13,377 1,261 9.4
2011 16,955 1,678 9.9 3,775 453 12.0 13,180 1,225 9.3
2012 17,780 1,602 9.0 4,138 457 11.0 13,642 1,145 8.4
2013 16,451 1,394 8.5 3,720 370 9.9 12,731 1,024 8.0
2014 14,384 1,314 9.1 3,463 337 9.7 10,921 977 8.9
2015 13,303 1,387 10.4 3,412 407 11.9 9,891 980 9.9
2016 11,575 1,263 10.9 3,082 366 11.9 8,493 897 10.6
2017 8,834 880 10.0 2,461 298 12.1 6,373 582 9.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2018.
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, 1992–2017
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 405,203 277,034 68.4 167,464 131,704 78.6 237,739 145,330 61.1
2009 482,355 309,047 64.1 200,291 150,163 75.0 282,064 158,884 56.3
2010 537,441 319,768 59.5 230,392 162,578 70.6 307,049 157,190 51.2
2011 548,633 307,344 56.0 238,793 159,877 67.0 309,840 147,467 47.6
2012 546,625 286,433 52.4 242,599 153,216 63.2 304,026 133,217 43.8
2013 525,788 262,507 49.9 244,075 145,575 59.6 281,713 116,932 41.5
2014 476,796 238,286 50.0 234,874 137,270 58.4 241,922 101,016 41.8
2015 353,649 187,618 53.1 183,423 112,570 61.4 170,226 75,048 44.1
2016 143,447 76,545 53.4 78,700 47,837 60.8 64,747 28,708 44.3
2017 15,896 7,774 48.9 9,830 5,501 56.0 6,066 2,273 37.5
  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 393,931 270,440 68.7 163,640 128,949 78.8 230,291 141,491 61.4
2009 468,950 301,908 64.4 196,266 147,365 75.1 272,684 154,543 56.7
2010 523,016 312,732 59.8 226,169 159,795 70.7 296,847 152,937 51.5
2011 533,730 300,175 56.2 234,202 156,908 67.0 299,528 143,267 47.8
2012 530,189 279,060 52.6 237,590 150,160 63.2 292,599 128,900 44.1
2013 509,965 255,663 50.1 239,246 142,731 59.7 270,719 112,932 41.7
2014 463,346 232,221 50.1 230,471 134,651 58.4 232,875 97,570 41.9
2015 343,745 182,888 53.2 180,030 110,446 61.3 163,715 72,442 44.2
2016 139,703 74,594 53.4 77,264 46,855 60.6 62,439 27,739 44.4
2017 15,355 7,468 48.6 9,521 5,269 55.3 5,834 2,199 37.7
  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 4,404 3,460 78.6 2,056 1,709 83.1 2,348 1,751 74.6
2009 4,775 3,630 76.0 2,126 1,742 81.9 2,649 1,888 71.3
2010 5,177 3,692 71.3 2,192 1,701 77.6 2,985 1,991 66.7
2011 5,386 3,785 70.3 2,359 1,774 75.2 3,027 2,011 66.4
2012 5,755 3,754 65.2 2,526 1,804 71.4 3,229 1,950 60.4
2013 5,855 3,634 62.1 2,521 1,735 68.8 3,334 1,899 57.0
2014 5,475 3,379 61.7 2,382 1,616 67.8 3,093 1,763 57.0
2015 4,079 2,670 65.5 1,823 1,331 73.0 2,256 1,339 59.4
2016 1,751 1,225 70.0 898 693 77.2 853 532 62.4
2017 278 217 78.1 193 171 88.6 85 46 54.1
  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 6,868 3,134 45.6 1,768 1,046 59.2 5,100 2,088 40.9
2009 8,630 3,509 40.7 1,899 1,056 55.6 6,731 2,453 36.4
2010 9,248 3,344 36.2 2,031 1,082 53.3 7,217 2,262 31.3
2011 9,517 3,384 35.6 2,232 1,195 53.5 7,285 2,189 30.0
2012 10,681 3,619 33.9 2,483 1,252 50.4 8,198 2,367 28.9
2013 9,968 3,210 32.2 2,308 1,109 48.1 7,660 2,101 27.4
2014 7,975 2,686 33.7 2,021 1,003 49.6 5,954 1,683 28.3
2015 5,825 2,060 35.4 1,570 793 50.5 4,255 1,267 29.8
2016 1,993 726 36.4 538 289 53.7 1,455 437 30.0
2017 263 89 33.8 116 61 52.6 147 28 19.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through July 2018.
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, 1992–2017
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 969,935 100.0 25.5 5.2 34.1 35.2
2009 1,105,663 100.0 24.3 5.2 35.7 34.8
2010 1,119,927 100.0 23.1 5.1 36.3 35.6
2011 1,073,705 100.0 22.4 5.0 37.6 35.0
2012 1,035,772 100.0 22.1 5.0 38.2 34.7
2013 960,161 100.0 22.5 4.8 37.3 35.4
2014 908,021 100.0 23.3 4.6 37.1 35.0
2015 823,035 100.0 25.2 4.6 37.3 32.8
2016 677,870 100.0 30.7 5.2 41.8 22.3
2017 557,804 100.0 35.9 5.6 43.9 14.6
  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 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 878,274 100.0 26.0 5.5 36.2 32.3
2009 1,006,088 100.0 24.8 5.5 37.8 31.9
2010 1,016,177 100.0 23.6 5.4 38.5 32.5
2011 970,789 100.0 23.0 5.3 40.1 31.6
2012 929,117 100.0 22.8 5.3 41.1 30.8
2013 857,161 100.0 23.3 5.1 40.3 31.3
2014 807,133 100.0 24.2 5.0 40.2 30.5
2015 719,092 100.0 26.6 5.0 41.2 27.2
2016 585,414 100.0 32.8 5.8 46.8 14.7
2017 472,091 100.0 39.2 6.3 50.1 4.4
  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 31,137 100.0 8.7 1.7 24.8 64.7
2009 32,501 100.0 8.1 1.9 26.0 63.9
2010 34,225 100.0 7.7 1.9 25.3 65.1
2011 33,581 100.0 7.8 1.7 25.3 65.3
2012 35,291 100.0 6.8 1.6 24.2 67.4
2013 34,148 100.0 6.2 1.6 23.0 69.2
2014 33,352 100.0 6.3 1.5 21.7 70.5
2015 31,799 100.0 6.7 1.3 21.5 70.6
2016 28,110 100.0 6.9 1.3 21.8 70.0
2017 25,081 100.0 7.5 1.3 20.8 70.4
  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 60,524 100.0 26.6 2.5 8.6 62.3
2009 67,074 100.0 24.8 2.5 8.8 63.9
2010 69,525 100.0 23.2 2.3 8.3 66.1
2011 69,335 100.0 21.9 2.3 7.9 67.9
2012 71,364 100.0 21.4 2.2 7.3 69.0
2013 68,852 100.0 21.0 2.0 7.0 69.9
2014 67,536 100.0 20.7 1.9 6.6 70.8
2015 72,144 100.0 19.8 1.7 5.9 72.5
2016 64,346 100.0 22.0 1.7 5.8 70.5
2017 60,632 100.0 22.1 1.7 5.0 71.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2018. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2018.
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, 1992–2017
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 649,725 100.0 6.3 20.4 26.3 30.9 16.0
2008 669,785 100.0 5.8 21.4 26.0 31.3 15.5
2009 800,288 100.0 4.6 22.5 25.4 32.3 15.1
2010 880,954 100.0 4.1 23.3 24.7 32.3 15.5
2011 888,927 100.0 3.9 23.9 20.4 33.6 18.3
2012 885,749 100.0 3.8 24.8 16.2 39.0 16.3
2013 845,075 100.0 4.0 25.0 15.1 42.3 13.6
2014 816,208 100.0 4.0 24.8 13.8 42.4 15.0
2015 738,318 100.0 4.3 24.6 11.6 42.3 17.2
2016 618,518 100.0 4.6 24.2 10.2 41.4 19.6
2017 549,037 100.0 4.7 24.2 9.4 40.8 20.9
  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 606,800 100.0 6.6 20.1 27.7 30.0 15.6
2008 625,607 100.0 6.1 21.1 27.4 30.3 15.1
2009 747,941 100.0 4.9 22.3 26.8 31.2 14.7
2010 823,117 100.0 4.3 23.2 26.1 31.2 15.2
2011 831,780 100.0 4.1 23.7 21.4 32.6 18.2
2012 828,405 100.0 4.0 24.5 17.0 38.4 16.1
2013 790,964 100.0 4.2 24.8 15.9 41.9 13.3
2014 766,295 100.0 4.2 24.5 14.4 42.1 14.8
2015 692,381 100.0 4.5 24.3 12.2 42.1 17.1
2016 578,990 100.0 4.8 23.9 10.7 41.1 19.5
2017 512,987 100.0 5.0 23.8 9.9 40.6 20.8
  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 8,653 100.0 3.3 27.8 30.8 21.9 16.2
2009 8,987 100.0 2.8 28.8 30.2 22.2 16.0
2010 9,792 100.0 2.7 29.4 28.0 24.0 16.0
2011 9,863 100.0 2.9 28.2 27.0 24.9 17.1
2012 10,103 100.0 2.4 28.8 23.5 28.4 16.9
2013 10,189 100.0 2.4 28.6 22.2 32.4 14.4
2014 9,831 100.0 2.3 27.5 21.5 32.9 15.8
2015 8,724 100.0 2.3 26.5 20.6 33.0 17.6
2016 7,473 100.0 2.5 26.0 17.8 34.0 19.8
2017 6,714 100.0 2.4 25.4 17.4 33.1 21.8
  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 35,525 100.0 1.5 24.8 0.2 51.0 22.5
2009 43,360 100.0 1.2 23.4 0.1 53.5 21.8
2010 48,045 100.0 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 47,241 100.0 0.9 27.7 0.0 51.9 19.4
2013 43,922 100.0 0.9 28.1 0.0 52.2 18.8
2014 40,082 100.0 0.9 29.4 0.0 50.5 19.2
2015 37,213 100.0 0.9 30.0 0.0 49.1 20.1
2016 32,055 100.0 0.9 28.8 0.0 48.3 21.9
2017 29,336 100.0 0.9 30.3 0.0 46.6 22.2
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2018. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2018.
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.