Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2005

Outcomes of Applications for Disability Benefits

Note

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 58 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 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 59–61 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 decisionmaking 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.

The next section includes one table that shows the reason for medical allowance and one that shows the reason for medical denial (Tables 62 and 63). 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
  • 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, 1995–2004

The final award rate for disabled-worker applicants has varied over time, averaging more than 47 percent for claims filed from 1995 through 2004. The percentage of applicants awarded benefits at the initial claims level averaged 31 percent over the same period and ranged from a high of about 35 percent to a low of 25 percent. The percentage of applicants awarded at the reconsideration and hearing levels are relatively constant, averaging 4 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Denied disability claims have averaged about 49 percent.

Area chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 11. Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 1995–2004 (percent)
Year Initial
awards		 Reconsideration
awards		 Hearings
and
Appeals
Council
awards		 Pending
final
decision		 Medical
denials		 Technical
denials
1995 28.1 4.6 15.6 0.0 41.7 10.1
1996 29.1 5.0 15.6 0.0 40.9 9.4
1997 30.6 5.1 16.0 0.0 38.6 9.7
1998 32.7 5.4 15.7 0.0 37.1 9.0
1999 33.9 4.9 15.9 0.2 35.8 9.3
2000 34.4 4.4 15.9 0.3 34.0 11.0
2001 34.9 3.9 15.3 0.4 33.2 12.3
2002 31.5 3.6 15.6 0.9 33.9 14.6
2003 28.1 3.2 13.6 3.1 31.5 20.6
2004 24.7 2.6 6.9 9.7 27.2 29.0
 
SOURCE: Tables 58–63.
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 58. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by year of application, 1992–2004
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 disabled beneficiaries
1999 1,265,055 3,145 104,340 443,674 4,069 707,969 1,858 56.1 61.4
2000 1,364,396 5,608 136,101 455,393 3,840 761,514 1,940 56.0 62.5
2001 1,513,536 11,461 170,479 492,804 3,601 833,257 1,934 55.5 62.8
2002 1,716,221 42,716 230,816 562,460 4,115 874,011 2,103 52.2 60.8
2003 1,931,283 174,286 374,032 575,613 4,730 800,509 2,113 45.6 58.1
2004 2,159,406 325,846 554,375 611,751 6,442 658,918 2,074 35.9 51.8
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 0 116,988 537,574 5,011 652,129 2,116 49.6 54.8
1997 1,164,680 0 106,882 449,970 4,214 601,755 1,859 51.7 57.2
1998 1,138,101 2,399 96,683 419,923 4,213 612,838 2,045 54.0 59.3
1999 1,167,664 3,045 102,316 417,248 4,021 639,248 1,786 54.9 60.4
2000 1,265,214 5,465 133,996 429,594 3,805 690,481 1,873 54.8 61.6
2001 1,414,598 11,261 168,191 467,094 3,558 762,615 1,879 54.3 62.0
2002 1,609,612 41,992 228,212 533,145 4,058 800,153 2,052 51.0 60.0
2003 1,823,199 172,000 371,059 543,097 4,670 730,333 2,040 44.2 57.3
2004 2,053,014 321,756 550,498 577,102 6,385 595,262 2,011 34.4 50.7
Widow(er)s
1999 40,055 58 1,173 9,667 17 29,103 37 72.8 75.1
2000 39,996 76 1,257 8,975 11 29,648 29 74.3 76.8
2001 40,238 101 1,344 8,672 13 30,089 19 75.0 77.6
2002 41,325 351 1,537 8,977 19 30,422 19 74.2 77.2
2003 40,760 1,272 1,646 9,681 25 28,091 45 71.1 74.4
2004 39,695 2,252 1,984 10,297 31 25,097 34 67.0 70.9
Adult children
1999 57,336 42 851 16,759 31 39,618 35 69.1 70.3
2000 59,186 67 848 16,824 24 41,385 38 70.0 71.1
2001 58,700 99 944 17,038 30 40,553 36 69.2 70.4
2002 65,284 373 1,067 20,338 38 43,436 32 66.9 68.1
2003 67,324 1,014 1,327 22,835 35 42,085 28 63.5 64.8
2004 66,697 1,838 1,893 24,352 26 38,559 29 59.5 61.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2005. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2005.
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 to 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
a. Applications were denied for nonmedical reasons; therefore 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 were denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that the applicant did not meet the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
e. Applications were denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that the applicant met the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or di.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 59. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by year of application and program, 1992–2004
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 1,160,654 459,999 39.6 649,845 313,676 48.3 510,809 146,323 28.6
2000 1,228,203 501,946 40.9 688,188 340,331 49.5 540,015 161,615 29.9
2001 1,342,880 560,106 41.7 742,838 379,872 51.1 600,042 180,234 30.0
2002 1,484,932 576,919 38.9 794,973 386,247 48.6 689,959 190,672 27.6
2003 1,555,430 579,262 37.2 794,442 378,526 47.6 760,988 200,736 26.4
2004 1,600,650 580,287 36.3 782,222 370,287 47.3 818,428 210,000 25.7
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 1,057,798 357,880 33.8 551,895 228,793 41.5 505,903 129,087 25.5
1998 1,041,363 374,376 36.0 550,774 238,989 43.4 490,589 135,387 27.6
1999 1,065,291 397,335 37.3 578,748 259,910 44.9 486,543 137,425 28.2
2000 1,131,129 436,605 38.6 615,367 284,388 46.2 515,762 152,217 29.5
2001 1,246,235 494,907 39.7 670,543 324,189 48.3 575,692 170,718 29.7
2002 1,380,941 508,659 36.8 718,487 327,949 45.6 662,454 180,710 27.3
2003 1,450,350 513,128 35.4 720,567 322,658 44.8 729,783 190,470 26.1
2004 1,498,219 518,295 34.6 715,182 319,545 44.7 783,037 198,750 25.4
Widow(er)s
1999 38,881 24,933 64.1 29,601 21,291 71.9 9,280 3,642 39.2
2000 38,737 25,781 66.6 29,879 21,997 73.6 8,858 3,784 42.7
2001 38,894 26,242 67.5 30,284 22,458 74.2 8,610 3,784 43.9
2002 39,785 26,588 66.8 31,067 22,815 73.4 8,718 3,773 43.3
2003 39,109 25,385 64.9 29,683 21,691 73.1 9,426 3,694 39.2
2004 37,685 24,050 63.8 27,085 19,975 73.7 10,600 4,075 38.4
Adult children
1999 56,482 37,731 66.8 41,496 32,475 78.3 14,986 5,256 35.1
2000 58,337 39,560 67.8 42,942 33,946 79.1 15,395 5,614 36.5
2001 57,751 38,957 67.5 42,011 33,225 79.1 15,740 5,732 36.4
2002 64,206 41,672 64.9 45,419 35,483 78.1 18,787 6,189 32.9
2003 65,971 40,749 61.8 44,192 34,177 77.3 21,779 6,572 30.2
2004 64,746 37,942 58.6 39,955 30,767 77.0 24,791 7,175 28.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2005.
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 to 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: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or di.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 60. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by year of application and program, 1992–2004
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 398,181 61,143 15.4 210,354 34,724 16.5 187,827 26,419 14.1
2000 408,520 58,590 14.3 215,437 33,233 15.4 193,083 25,357 13.1
2001 435,135 58,417 13.4 222,255 32,590 14.7 212,880 25,827 12.1
2002 502,507 60,482 12.0 250,049 32,881 13.1 252,458 27,601 10.9
2003 532,676 59,727 11.2 251,825 31,705 12.6 280,851 28,022 10.0
2004 452,642 43,283 9.6 205,719 22,701 11.0 246,923 20,582 8.3
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 403,211 59,978 14.9 206,134 33,373 16.2 197,077 26,605 13.5
1998 384,977 61,742 16.0 199,272 34,043 17.1 185,705 27,699 14.9
1999 385,406 57,808 15.0 203,693 33,192 16.3 181,713 24,616 13.5
2000 397,025 55,762 14.0 209,140 31,946 15.3 187,885 23,816 12.7
2001 423,960 55,822 13.2 216,158 31,420 14.5 207,802 24,402 11.7
2002 490,064 57,961 11.8 243,485 31,809 13.1 246,579 26,152 10.6
2003 519,936 57,594 11.1 246,009 30,792 12.5 273,927 26,802 9.8
2004 442,867 42,017 9.5 201,648 22,171 11.0 241,219 19,846 8.2
Widow(er)s
1999 7,108 1,983 27.9 4,108 917 22.3 3,000 1,066 35.5
2000 6,353 1,574 24.8 3,854 738 19.1 2,499 836 33.5
2001 6,192 1,599 25.8 3,859 741 19.2 2,333 858 36.8
2002 6,415 1,435 22.4 4,014 667 16.6 2,401 768 32.0
2003 6,452 1,178 18.3 3,649 592 16.2 2,803 586 20.9
2004 4,769 685 14.4 2,472 335 13.6 2,297 350 15.2
Adult children
1999 5,667 1,352 23.9 2,553 615 24.1 3,114 737 23.7
2000 5,142 1,254 24.4 2,443 549 22.5 2,699 705 26.1
2001 4,983 996 20.0 2,238 429 19.2 2,745 567 20.7
2002 6,028 1,086 18.0 2,550 405 15.9 3,478 681 19.6
2003 6,288 955 15.2 2,167 321 14.8 4,121 634 15.4
2004 5,006 581 11.6 1,599 195 12.2 3,407 386 11.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2005.
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 to 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: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or di.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 61. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by year of application and program, 1992–2004
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 260,693 188,685 72.4 142,698 111,850 78.4 117,995 76,835 65.1
2000 282,310 202,917 71.9 153,119 119,387 78.0 129,191 83,530 64.7
2001 300,747 216,668 72.0 158,710 124,765 78.6 142,037 91,903 64.7
2002 324,727 238,713 73.5 170,201 136,992 80.5 154,526 101,721 65.8
2003 215,931 163,633 75.8 113,243 93,557 82.6 102,688 70,076 68.2
2004 45,435 37,422 82.4 25,986 23,013 88.6 19,449 14,409 74.1
Workers
1992 275,863 201,359 73.0 131,624 105,371 80.1 144,239 95,988 66.5
1993 310,655 217,816 70.1 143,997 112,593 78.2 166,658 105,223 63.1
1994 323,607 220,645 68.2 156,458 119,338 76.3 167,149 101,307 60.6
1995 301,917 202,739 67.2 150,882 113,781 75.4 151,035 88,958 58.9
1996 306,245 204,612 66.8 157,790 116,256 73.7 148,455 88,356 59.5
1997 267,274 185,756 69.5 141,007 107,310 76.1 126,267 78,446 62.1
1998 249,106 178,765 71.8 133,808 104,596 78.2 115,298 74,169 64.3
1999 256,657 185,891 72.4 139,632 109,669 78.5 117,025 76,222 65.1
2000 278,054 199,986 71.9 149,888 117,099 78.1 128,166 82,887 64.7
2001 296,558 213,765 72.1 155,504 122,479 78.8 141,054 91,286 64.7
2002 320,311 235,585 73.5 166,832 134,509 80.6 153,479 101,076 65.9
2003 213,209 161,651 75.8 111,328 92,114 82.7 101,881 69,537 68.3
2004 44,869 36,961 82.4 25,599 22,687 88.6 19,270 14,274 74.1
Widow(er)s
1999 2,920 2,224 76.2 2,253 1,740 77.2 667 484 72.6
2000 3,030 2,322 76.6 2,339 1,816 77.6 691 506 73.2
2001 2,901 2,267 78.1 2,295 1,811 78.9 606 456 75.2
2002 3,037 2,418 79.6 2,399 1,942 81.0 638 476 74.6
2003 1,965 1,573 80.1 1,425 1,156 81.1 540 417 77.2
2004 454 396 87.2 319 282 88.4 135 114 84.4
Adult children
1999 1,116 570 51.1 813 441 54.2 303 129 42.6
2000 1,226 609 49.7 892 472 52.9 334 137 41.0
2001 1,288 636 49.4 911 475 52.1 377 161 42.7
2002 1,379 710 51.5 970 541 55.8 409 169 41.3
2003 757 409 54.0 490 287 58.6 267 122 45.7
2004 112 65 58.0 68 44 64.7 44 21 47.7
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through July 2005.
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 to 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: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or di.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 62. Percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by year of application and reason for allowance, 1992–2004
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 707,969 100.0 33.0 5.9 27.0 34.0
2000 761,514 100.0 31.3 6.2 29.4 33.1
2001 833,257 100.0 30.2 6.1 30.3 33.3
2002 874,011 100.0 29.3 5.5 31.0 34.2
2003 800,509 100.0 31.3 5.9 35.9 26.9
2004 658,918 100.0 37.1 6.9 43.6 12.3
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 652,129 100.0 34.2 7.0 27.4 31.5
1997 601,755 100.0 35.0 7.6 26.4 31.0
1998 612,838 100.0 35.5 6.6 27.0 30.9
1999 639,248 100.0 33.7 6.3 28.3 31.7
2000 690,481 100.0 31.9 6.6 30.9 30.7
2001 762,615 100.0 30.8 6.4 31.7 31.1
2002 800,153 100.0 29.8 5.8 32.4 32.0
2003 730,333 100.0 32.0 6.2 37.8 24.0
2004 595,262 100.0 38.3 7.4 46.4 7.9
Widow(er)s
1999 29,103 100.0 14.9 2.5 24.6 58.0
2000 29,648 100.0 12.8 2.5 26.3 58.4
2001 30,089 100.0 12.3 2.6 27.0 58.0
2002 30,422 100.0 11.5 2.1 26.7 59.7
2003 28,091 100.0 11.5 2.4 27.8 58.4
2004 25,097 100.0 11.8 2.2 30.1 56.0
Adult children
1999 39,618 100.0 35.9 3.2 7.4 53.5
2000 41,385 100.0 35.0 3.1 7.3 54.7
2001 40,553 100.0 33.0 3.0 8.0 56.0
2002 43,436 100.0 31.8 2.9 7.7 57.6
2003 42,085 100.0 32.8 2.8 8.6 55.7
2004 38,559 100.0 34.7 3.2 9.5 52.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2005. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2005.
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 to 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: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or di.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 63. Percentage distribution of final medical denials, by year of application and reason for denial, 1992–2004
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 447,743 100.0 10.3 17.8 28.3 30.8 12.8
2000 459,233 100.0 10.1 17.2 28.3 30.4 14.0
2001 496,405 100.0 9.3 16.7 28.0 31.0 14.9
2002 566,575 100.0 8.6 17.2 28.1 31.0 15.1
2003 580,343 100.0 7.8 17.7 27.9 30.9 15.7
2004 618,193 100.0 7.3 17.7 27.8 30.9 16.4
Workers
1992 487,164 100.0 10.7 22.9 28.4 29.6 8.4
1993 546,532 100.0 10.4 22.7 27.6 29.8 9.5
1994 578,664 100.0 10.2 21.5 25.9 28.8 13.6
1995 547,145 100.0 10.6 20.8 25.4 29.4 13.8
1996 542,585 100.0 10.2 19.6 24.7 30.6 14.8
1997 454,184 100.0 10.6 18.5 25.7 30.5 14.7
1998 424,136 100.0 10.8 18.3 27.8 30.8 12.2
1999 421,269 100.0 10.7 17.4 29.3 30.1 12.5
2000 433,399 100.0 10.5 16.7 29.3 29.7 13.7
2001 470,652 100.0 9.6 16.4 29.0 30.4 14.6
2002 537,203 100.0 8.9 16.9 29.1 30.2 14.9
2003 547,767 100.0 8.1 17.4 29.0 30.0 15.5
2004 583,487 100.0 7.5 17.4 28.8 30.1 16.1
Widow(er)s
1999 9,684 100.0 5.6 29.1 31.8 22.7 10.8
2000 8,986 100.0 5.3 29.0 31.4 22.4 12.0
2001 8,685 100.0 4.7 27.6 31.2 22.9 13.7
2002 8,996 100.0 4.8 26.2 32.4 23.6 13.1
2003 9,706 100.0 4.3 25.8 32.9 23.7 13.3
2004 10,328 100.0 3.9 24.9 32.6 24.4 14.3
Adult children
1999 16,790 100.0 3.1 22.7 0.7 53.3 20.2
2000 16,848 100.0 2.9 22.9 0.7 51.9 21.7
2001 17,068 100.0 2.5 21.3 0.9 52.9 22.3
2002 20,376 100.0 2.3 21.6 0.8 53.5 21.8
2003 22,870 100.0 2.0 21.7 0.7 53.7 21.9
2004 24,378 100.0 2.1 21.6 0.5 52.3 23.5
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2005. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2005.
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 to 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: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or di.asr@ssa.gov.