Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2022

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.

From October 1999 through March 2020, the proportion of claims awarded at each level of the process was affected by a Prototype Process that SSA 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 resulted in a decrease in the aggregate proportion of claims awarded at this step. SSA began phasing out the Prototype Process on January 1, 2019, and by March 31, 2020, the reconsideration step had been reinstated in all 10 test states.

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, 2012–2021

The final award rate for disabled-worker applicants has varied over time, averaging 30 percent for claims filed from 2012 through 2021. The share of applicants awarded benefits at the initial claims level has ranged narrowly from 20 percent to 21 percent. The percentages of applicants awarded at the reconsideration and hearing levels have averaged 2 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Denied disability claims have averaged 67 percent.

Area chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 11. Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2012–2021 (percent)
Year Initial awards Reconsideration awards Awards at hearing level or above Pending final decision Medical denials Technical denials
2012 21.3 2.2 10.1 0.0 29.2 37.2
2013 20.9 2.1 9.9 0.0 29.5 37.6
2014 20.6 2.1 9.6 0.0 29.9 37.8
2015 20.3 2.2 8.9 0.1 29.9 38.7
2016 20.4 2.2 8.4 0.2 29.6 39.2
2017 20.6 2.2 7.9 0.3 29.4 39.6
2018 20.7 2.3 7.6 0.8 28.4 40.1
2019 21.2 2.8 7.0 2.0 28.0 39.0
2020 20.8 2.5 4.9 6.6 26.0 39.1
2021 19.7 1.2 0.6 12.6 22.4 43.4
 
SOURCE: Tables 60–63.
NOTE: 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.
Table 60. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by year of application, 1992–2021
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 0 845,192 789,506 10,686 1,105,781 1,847 40.2 58.1
2010 2,981,615 0 978,627 861,506 19,094 1,120,313 2,075 37.6 56.0
2011 2,952,112 0 981,930 872,759 20,762 1,074,600 2,061 36.4 54.6
2012 2,955,946 0 1,024,469 867,276 23,847 1,038,076 2,278 35.1 53.9
2013 2,790,688 0 971,042 827,173 24,973 965,255 2,245 34.6 53.2
2014 2,687,365 0 936,820 804,035 27,025 917,203 2,282 34.1 52.5
2015 2,547,682 2,916 904,248 758,791 27,516 851,912 2,299 33.5 52.1
2016 2,430,102 3,911 875,652 715,998 27,361 805,195 1,985 33.2 52.1
2017 2,306,263 6,474 834,165 674,477 28,140 761,070 1,937 33.1 52.1
2018 2,226,343 17,624 811,182 630,861 29,773 734,825 2,078 33.3 52.7
2019 2,183,465 42,882 774,847 614,839 28,877 720,139 1,881 33.6 52.9
2020 1,999,612 128,426 713,878 526,008 28,778 600,986 1,536 32.1 52.1
2021 1,793,096 218,869 719,173 407,663 24,301 421,837 1,253 26.8 49.5
  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 0 839,206 737,312 10,538 1,006,200 1,772 38.8 57.4
2010 2,809,479 0 968,148 804,279 18,493 1,016,551 2,008 36.2 55.3
2011 2,780,981 0 971,069 815,997 20,268 971,651 1,996 34.9 53.8
2012 2,776,221 0 1,009,057 810,909 22,757 931,342 2,156 33.5 52.8
2013 2,620,315 0 958,210 773,831 24,013 862,113 2,148 32.9 52.0
2014 2,523,715 0 924,720 754,776 25,980 816,038 2,201 32.3 51.2
2015 2,383,373 2,773 892,532 712,390 26,467 747,010 2,201 31.4 50.3
2016 2,275,573 3,760 864,652 673,193 26,370 705,727 1,871 31.1 50.3
2017 2,153,538 6,201 823,542 633,085 27,127 661,742 1,841 30.8 50.1
2018 2,068,395 16,886 799,400 588,421 28,616 633,124 1,948 30.9 50.7
2019 2,028,571 41,094 762,120 567,060 27,440 629,182 1,675 31.7 51.5
2020 1,870,390 124,288 703,179 486,705 27,144 527,697 1,377 30.2 50.7
2021 1,688,372 212,868 709,171 377,905 23,056 364,247 1,125 24.7 47.7
  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 8,943 43 32,502 20 73.8 78.4
2010 47,583 0 3,543 9,707 82 34,228 23 71.9 77.8
2011 47,030 0 3,498 9,835 74 33,589 34 71.4 77.2
2012 51,363 0 5,850 9,901 242 35,317 53 68.8 77.7
2013 49,596 0 5,109 9,991 261 34,192 43 68.9 77.0
2014 48,057 0 4,620 9,684 266 33,450 37 69.6 77.1
2015 45,845 34 4,466 8,849 289 32,170 37 70.2 77.9
2016 43,054 45 4,109 8,209 250 30,399 42 70.7 78.3
2017 41,000 65 3,840 7,768 284 29,011 32 70.9 78.3
2018 39,451 158 3,939 7,754 326 27,232 42 69.3 77.1
2019 39,429 438 4,435 9,230 449 24,808 69 63.6 72.0
2020 35,651 1,487 3,918 8,139 646 21,395 66 62.6 71.0
2021 29,543 2,184 3,677 6,500 509 16,623 50 60.8 70.4
  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 3,268 35,425 100 60,524 46 60.9 63.0
2009 113,925 0 3,435 43,251 105 67,079 55 58.9 60.8
2010 124,553 0 6,936 47,520 519 69,534 44 55.8 59.2
2011 124,101 0 7,363 46,927 420 69,360 31 55.9 59.4
2012 128,362 0 9,562 46,466 848 71,417 69 55.6 60.2
2013 120,777 0 7,723 43,351 699 68,950 54 57.1 61.0
2014 115,593 0 7,480 39,575 779 67,715 44 58.6 62.7
2015 118,464 109 7,250 37,552 760 72,732 61 61.5 65.5
2016 111,475 106 6,891 34,596 741 69,069 72 62.0 66.2
2017 111,725 208 6,783 33,624 729 70,317 64 63.1 67.2
2018 118,497 580 7,843 34,686 831 74,469 88 63.2 67.7
2019 115,465 1,350 8,292 38,549 988 66,149 137 58.0 62.6
2020 93,571 2,651 6,781 31,164 988 51,894 93 57.1 61.8
2021 75,181 3,817 6,325 23,258 736 40,967 78 57.4 63.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2022. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2022.
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: statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 61. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by year of application and program, 1992–2021
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 1,907,857 734,410 38.5 922,365 480,888 52.1 985,492 253,522 25.7
2010 2,003,031 739,092 36.9 991,011 496,238 50.1 1,012,020 242,854 24.0
2011 1,970,235 703,312 35.7 988,039 478,747 48.5 982,196 224,565 22.9
2012 1,931,564 689,229 35.7 989,723 474,891 48.0 941,841 214,338 22.8
2013 1,819,725 643,387 35.4 966,560 450,223 46.6 853,165 193,164 22.6
2014 1,750,631 615,868 35.2 981,610 441,985 45.0 769,021 173,883 22.6
2015 1,643,494 583,099 35.5 941,396 424,134 45.1 702,098 158,965 22.6
2016 1,554,485 557,723 35.9 904,403 407,833 45.1 650,082 149,890 23.1
2017 1,472,147 538,621 36.6 855,271 393,649 46.0 616,876 144,972 23.5
2018 1,415,176 523,799 37.0 830,773 382,208 46.0 584,403 141,591 24.2
2019 1,408,200 514,190 36.5 809,951 367,249 45.3 598,249 146,941 24.6
2020 1,284,006 458,898 35.7 779,752 338,122 43.4 504,254 120,776 24.0
2021 1,060,770 390,536 36.8 676,756 293,491 43.4 384,014 97,045 25.3
  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 1,755,858 644,692 36.7 830,777 407,867 49.1 925,081 236,825 25.6
2010 1,841,372 645,070 35.0 894,519 419,068 46.8 946,853 226,002 23.9
2011 1,809,962 610,298 33.7 890,729 401,279 45.1 919,233 209,019 22.7
2012 1,767,240 592,522 33.5 887,359 393,415 44.3 879,881 199,107 22.6
2013 1,662,175 549,527 33.1 867,265 370,738 42.7 794,910 178,789 22.5
2014 1,599,070 523,233 32.7 883,012 362,924 41.1 716,058 160,309 22.4
2015 1,490,896 486,094 32.6 838,808 340,364 40.6 652,088 145,730 22.3
2016 1,410,954 465,661 33.0 806,744 328,423 40.7 604,210 137,238 22.7
2017 1,330,046 446,214 33.5 756,710 313,312 41.4 573,336 132,902 23.2
2018 1,269,005 429,219 33.8 726,838 300,051 41.3 542,167 129,168 23.8
2019 1,266,057 430,875 34.0 709,543 296,419 41.8 556,514 134,456 24.2
2020 1,165,593 390,592 33.5 694,081 279,202 40.2 471,512 111,390 23.6
2021 966,442 334,185 34.6 606,741 244,815 40.3 359,701 89,370 24.8
  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 27,815 67.0 28,929 22,797 78.8 12,579 5,018 39.9
2010 44,040 29,501 67.0 30,599 24,203 79.1 13,441 5,298 39.4
2011 43,532 28,700 65.9 30,393 23,803 78.3 13,139 4,897 37.3
2012 45,517 30,477 67.0 32,409 25,662 79.2 13,108 4,815 36.7
2013 44,490 29,538 66.4 31,760 25,014 78.8 12,730 4,524 35.5
2014 43,441 28,997 66.8 31,412 24,794 78.9 12,029 4,203 34.9
2015 41,381 28,184 68.1 30,286 24,238 80.0 11,095 3,946 35.6
2016 38,945 26,717 68.6 28,742 23,041 80.2 10,203 3,676 36.0
2017 37,161 25,749 69.3 27,679 22,373 80.8 9,482 3,376 35.6
2018 35,514 23,962 67.5 26,519 20,699 78.1 8,995 3,263 36.3
2019 34,994 21,136 60.4 26,009 17,773 68.3 8,985 3,363 37.4
2020 31,710 18,880 59.5 23,866 15,973 66.9 7,844 2,907 37.1
2021 25,770 16,078 62.4 20,206 13,897 68.8 5,564 2,181 39.2
  Adult children
1999 56,482 37,703 66.8 41,496 32,463 78.2 14,986 5,240 35.0
2000 58,296 39,493 67.7 42,901 33,891 79.0 15,395 5,602 36.4
2001 57,715 38,897 67.4 41,975 33,181 79.0 15,740 5,716 36.3
2002 64,094 41,569 64.9 45,337 35,408 78.1 18,757 6,161 32.8
2003 68,171 42,927 63.0 46,303 36,243 78.3 21,868 6,684 30.6
2004 72,085 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 110,491 61,903 56.0 62,659 50,224 80.2 47,832 11,679 24.4
2010 117,619 64,521 54.9 65,893 52,967 80.4 51,726 11,554 22.3
2011 116,741 64,314 55.1 66,917 53,665 80.2 49,824 10,649 21.4
2012 118,807 66,230 55.7 69,955 55,814 79.8 48,852 10,416 21.3
2013 113,060 64,322 56.9 67,535 54,471 80.7 45,525 9,851 21.6
2014 108,120 63,638 58.9 67,186 54,267 80.8 40,934 9,371 22.9
2015 111,217 68,821 61.9 72,302 59,532 82.3 38,915 9,289 23.9
2016 104,586 65,345 62.5 68,917 56,369 81.8 35,669 8,976 25.2
2017 104,940 66,658 63.5 70,882 57,964 81.8 34,058 8,694 25.5
2018 110,657 70,618 63.8 77,416 61,458 79.4 33,241 9,160 27.6
2019 107,149 62,179 58.0 74,399 53,057 71.3 32,750 9,122 27.9
2020 86,703 49,426 57.0 61,805 42,947 69.5 24,898 6,479 26.0
2021 68,558 40,273 58.7 49,809 34,779 69.8 18,749 5,494 29.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2022.
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: statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 62. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by year of application and program, 1992–2021
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 64,080 9.9 264,493 33,212 12.6 379,731 30,868 8.1
2010 706,098 63,198 9.0 299,847 34,300 11.4 406,251 28,898 7.1
2011 724,461 65,171 9.0 314,358 36,364 11.6 410,103 28,807 7.0
2012 714,132 62,482 8.7 316,739 34,918 11.0 397,393 27,564 6.9
2013 682,342 56,597 8.3 316,232 32,175 10.2 366,110 24,422 6.7
2014 644,205 56,326 8.7 316,539 33,524 10.6 327,666 22,802 7.0
2015 572,115 54,527 9.5 291,087 32,989 11.3 281,028 21,538 7.7
2016 530,732 52,143 9.8 275,106 32,120 11.7 255,626 20,023 7.8
2017 485,839 48,608 10.0 250,582 30,100 12.0 235,257 18,508 7.9
2018 463,915 50,224 10.8 240,836 31,322 13.0 223,079 18,902 8.5
2019 459,919 60,709 13.2 237,577 38,058 16.0 222,342 22,651 10.2
2020 388,737 49,736 12.8 216,308 32,559 15.1 172,429 17,177 10.0
2021 166,667 21,955 13.2 100,620 15,578 15.5 66,047 6,377 9.7
  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 61,281 9.9 258,019 32,309 12.5 363,657 28,972 8.0
2010 681,806 60,435 8.9 293,218 33,392 11.4 388,588 27,043 7.0
2011 699,642 62,356 8.9 307,208 35,405 11.5 392,434 26,951 6.9
2012 688,205 59,760 8.7 309,055 33,982 11.0 379,150 25,778 6.8
2013 657,786 54,165 8.2 309,024 31,346 10.1 348,762 22,819 6.5
2014 621,980 53,989 8.7 309,651 32,727 10.6 312,329 21,262 6.8
2015 551,879 52,156 9.5 284,634 32,156 11.3 267,245 20,000 7.5
2016 512,151 49,948 9.8 268,935 31,327 11.6 243,216 18,621 7.7
2017 468,101 46,428 9.9 244,612 29,245 12.0 223,489 17,183 7.7
2018 445,942 47,723 10.7 234,022 30,151 12.9 211,920 17,572 8.3
2019 440,145 57,236 13.0 228,801 35,977 15.7 211,344 21,259 10.1
2020 373,826 47,270 12.6 209,429 31,116 14.9 164,397 16,154 9.8
2021 160,720 20,898 13.0 97,499 14,886 15.3 63,221 6,012 9.5
  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 3,073 461 15.0 4,286 594 13.9
2011 7,861 1,133 14.4 3,373 505 15.0 4,488 628 14.0
2012 8,147 1,116 13.7 3,546 480 13.5 4,601 636 13.8
2013 8,101 1,029 12.7 3,485 457 13.1 4,616 572 12.4
2014 7,833 1,011 12.9 3,420 456 13.3 4,413 555 12.6
2015 6,923 982 14.2 3,032 425 14.0 3,891 557 14.3
2016 6,360 842 13.2 2,816 394 14.0 3,544 448 12.6
2017 5,761 805 14.0 2,548 397 15.6 3,213 408 12.7
2018 5,837 942 16.1 2,697 477 17.7 3,140 465 14.8
2019 6,485 1,474 22.7 3,422 908 26.5 3,063 566 18.5
2020 5,406 1,118 20.7 2,865 646 22.5 2,541 472 18.6
2021 1,912 437 22.9 1,124 291 25.9 788 146 18.5
  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 1,722 11.1 3,430 457 13.3 12,130 1,265 10.4
2010 16,933 1,708 10.1 3,556 447 12.6 13,377 1,261 9.4
2011 16,958 1,682 9.9 3,777 454 12.0 13,181 1,228 9.3
2012 17,780 1,606 9.0 4,138 456 11.0 13,642 1,150 8.4
2013 16,455 1,403 8.5 3,723 372 10.0 12,732 1,031 8.1
2014 14,392 1,326 9.2 3,468 341 9.8 10,924 985 9.0
2015 13,313 1,389 10.4 3,421 408 11.9 9,892 981 9.9
2016 12,221 1,353 11.1 3,355 399 11.9 8,866 954 10.8
2017 11,977 1,375 11.5 3,422 458 13.4 8,555 917 10.7
2018 12,136 1,559 12.8 4,117 694 16.9 8,019 865 10.8
2019 13,289 1,999 15.0 5,354 1,173 21.9 7,935 826 10.4
2020 9,505 1,348 14.2 4,014 797 19.9 5,491 551 10.0
2021 4,035 620 15.4 1,997 401 20.1 2,038 219 10.7
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2022.
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: statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 63. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by year of application and program, 1992–2021
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 482,363 309,138 64.1 200,296 150,200 75.0 282,067 158,938 56.3
2010 537,453 320,098 59.6 230,396 162,719 70.6 307,057 157,379 51.3
2011 554,186 308,178 55.6 241,140 160,277 66.5 313,046 147,901 47.2
2012 554,402 288,643 52.1 246,172 154,369 62.7 308,230 134,274 43.6
2013 538,185 267,516 49.7 250,222 148,199 59.2 287,963 119,317 41.4
2014 501,573 247,291 49.3 246,929 142,036 57.5 254,644 105,255 41.3
2015 432,994 216,585 50.0 221,129 128,456 58.1 211,865 88,129 41.6
2016 395,419 197,314 49.9 205,187 118,961 58.0 190,232 78,353 41.2
2017 353,240 175,778 49.8 182,444 106,108 58.2 170,796 69,670 40.8
2018 317,856 162,880 51.2 165,848 98,504 59.4 152,008 64,376 42.4
2019 267,764 147,121 54.9 141,498 88,971 62.9 126,266 58,150 46.1
2020 159,517 93,888 58.9 93,390 61,184 65.5 66,127 32,704 49.5
2021 18,203 10,599 58.2 12,308 7,826 63.6 5,895 2,773 47.0
  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 468,958 301,999 64.4 196,271 147,402 75.1 272,687 154,597 56.7
2010 523,027 313,054 59.9 226,172 159,933 70.7 296,855 153,121 51.6
2011 539,145 300,993 55.8 236,507 157,301 66.5 302,638 143,692 47.5
2012 537,777 281,216 52.3 241,101 151,289 62.7 296,676 129,927 43.8
2013 522,040 260,569 49.9 245,293 145,323 59.2 276,747 115,246 41.6
2014 487,452 241,017 49.4 242,307 139,342 57.5 245,145 101,675 41.5
2015 420,586 210,961 50.2 216,982 126,011 58.1 203,604 84,950 41.7
2016 384,080 191,989 50.0 201,278 116,637 57.9 182,802 75,352 41.2
2017 342,734 170,941 49.9 178,773 103,940 58.1 163,961 67,001 40.9
2018 308,156 158,130 51.3 162,183 96,282 59.4 145,973 61,848 42.4
2019 259,486 142,746 55.0 138,101 86,753 62.8 121,385 55,993 46.1
2020 155,013 91,212 58.8 91,360 59,767 65.4 63,653 31,445 49.4
2021 17,734 10,289 58.0 12,031 7,607 63.2 5,703 2,682 47.0
  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 5,178 3,695 71.4 2,193 1,703 77.7 2,985 1,992 66.7
2011 5,439 3,790 69.7 2,379 1,776 74.7 3,060 2,014 65.8
2012 5,823 3,777 64.9 2,554 1,818 71.2 3,269 1,959 59.9
2013 5,958 3,668 61.6 2,559 1,748 68.3 3,399 1,920 56.5
2014 5,698 3,479 61.1 2,482 1,654 66.6 3,216 1,825 56.7
2015 4,884 3,041 62.3 2,146 1,475 68.7 2,738 1,566 57.2
2016 4,504 2,882 64.0 1,983 1,376 69.4 2,521 1,506 59.7
2017 4,041 2,489 61.6 1,756 1,183 67.4 2,285 1,306 57.2
2018 3,748 2,370 63.2 1,683 1,178 70.0 2,065 1,192 57.7
2019 3,335 2,267 68.0 1,646 1,202 73.0 1,689 1,065 63.1
2020 2,029 1,463 72.1 1,061 806 76.0 968 657 67.9
2021 200 158 79.0 145 123 84.8 55 35 63.6
  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 3,349 36.2 2,031 1,083 53.3 7,217 2,266 31.4
2011 9,602 3,395 35.4 2,254 1,200 53.2 7,348 2,195 29.9
2012 10,802 3,650 33.8 2,517 1,262 50.1 8,285 2,388 28.8
2013 10,187 3,279 32.2 2,370 1,128 47.6 7,817 2,151 27.5
2014 8,423 2,795 33.2 2,140 1,040 48.6 6,283 1,755 27.9
2015 7,524 2,583 34.3 2,001 970 48.5 5,523 1,613 29.2
2016 6,835 2,443 35.7 1,926 948 49.2 4,909 1,495 30.5
2017 6,465 2,348 36.3 1,915 985 51.4 4,550 1,363 30.0
2018 5,952 2,380 40.0 1,982 1,044 52.7 3,970 1,336 33.7
2019 4,943 2,108 42.6 1,751 1,016 58.0 3,192 1,092 34.2
2020 2,475 1,213 49.0 969 611 63.1 1,506 602 40.0
2021 269 152 56.5 132 96 72.7 137 56 40.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through July 2022.
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: statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 64. Number and percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by year of application and reason for allowance, 1992–2021
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 1,105,781 100.0 24.3 5.2 35.7 34.8
2010 1,120,313 100.0 23.1 5.1 36.2 35.6
2011 1,074,600 100.0 22.4 5.0 37.5 35.0
2012 1,038,076 100.0 22.1 5.0 38.1 34.8
2013 965,255 100.0 22.4 4.7 37.1 35.7
2014 917,203 100.0 23.1 4.6 36.7 35.7
2015 851,912 100.0 24.4 4.5 36.1 35.1
2016 805,195 100.0 26.1 4.4 35.4 34.1
2017 761,070 100.0 27.7 4.4 34.6 33.4
2018 734,825 100.0 29.7 4.5 34.7 31.1
2019 720,139 100.0 33.8 4.5 38.3 23.4
2020 600,986 100.0 35.4 4.5 40.9 19.2
2021 421,837 100.0 43.4 4.4 43.7 8.4
  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 1,006,200 100.0 24.8 5.5 37.8 31.9
2010 1,016,551 100.0 23.6 5.4 38.5 32.5
2011 971,651 100.0 22.9 5.3 40.1 31.7
2012 931,342 100.0 22.7 5.3 41.0 31.0
2013 862,113 100.0 23.2 5.1 40.1 31.7
2014 816,038 100.0 24.0 4.9 39.8 31.3
2015 747,010 100.0 25.6 4.9 39.7 29.9
2016 705,727 100.0 27.3 4.8 38.9 28.9
2017 661,742 100.0 29.1 4.8 38.3 27.8
2018 633,124 100.0 30.2 4.8 38.5 26.5
2019 629,182 100.0 31.5 4.7 40.5 23.3
2020 527,697 100.0 33.6 4.6 43.5 18.2
2021 364,247 100.0 42.9 4.7 48.1 4.3
  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 32,502 100.0 8.1 1.9 26.0 63.9
2010 34,228 100.0 7.7 1.9 25.3 65.1
2011 33,589 100.0 7.8 1.7 25.3 65.3
2012 35,317 100.0 6.8 1.6 24.2 67.4
2013 34,192 100.0 6.2 1.6 23.0 69.2
2014 33,450 100.0 6.3 1.5 21.7 70.6
2015 32,170 100.0 6.6 1.3 21.2 70.9
2016 30,399 100.0 6.5 1.2 20.4 71.9
2017 29,011 100.0 7.0 1.2 20.2 71.6
2018 27,232 100.0 8.4 1.4 24.0 66.2
2019 24,808 100.0 16.2 2.8 50.2 30.8
2020 21,395 100.0 15.4 2.6 48.0 34.1
2021 16,623 100.0 15.0 1.6 37.6 45.7
  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 67,079 100.0 24.8 2.5 8.8 63.9
2010 69,534 100.0 23.2 2.3 8.3 66.1
2011 69,360 100.0 21.9 2.3 7.9 67.9
2012 71,417 100.0 21.4 2.2 7.3 69.0
2013 68,950 100.0 21.0 2.0 7.0 70.0
2014 67,715 100.0 20.7 1.9 6.6 70.9
2015 72,732 100.0 19.7 1.7 5.9 72.7
2016 69,069 100.0 21.7 1.7 5.7 70.9
2017 70,317 100.0 23.0 1.8 5.5 69.6
2018 74,469 100.0 33.3 2.3 6.6 57.9
2019 66,149 100.0 61.9 3.9 12.1 22.1
2020 51,894 100.0 62.4 3.8 10.6 23.2
2021 40,967 100.0 59.3 3.2 7.8 29.7
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2022. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2022.
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: statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 65. Number and percentage distribution of final medical denials, by year of application and reason for denial, 1992–2021
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 800,192 100.0 4.6 22.5 25.4 32.3 15.1
2010 880,600 100.0 4.1 23.3 24.7 32.3 15.5
2011 893,521 100.0 3.9 23.8 20.4 33.6 18.3
2012 891,123 100.0 3.8 24.7 16.2 39.0 16.3
2013 852,146 100.0 4.0 24.9 15.1 42.4 13.5
2014 831,060 100.0 3.9 24.7 13.8 42.7 14.8
2015 786,307 100.0 4.1 24.3 11.7 43.1 16.8
2016 743,359 100.0 4.2 23.7 10.2 43.6 18.3
2017 702,617 100.0 4.2 23.9 9.1 43.8 19.0
2018 660,634 100.0 3.9 24.8 8.6 42.6 20.1
2019 643,716 100.0 3.7 24.6 8.2 43.4 20.1
2020 554,786 100.0 3.5 22.6 8.0 41.6 24.2
2021 431,964 100.0 3.1 20.8 7.9 38.4 29.9
  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 747,850 100.0 4.9 22.3 26.8 31.2 14.7
2010 822,772 100.0 4.3 23.2 26.1 31.2 15.2
2011 836,265 100.0 4.1 23.6 21.4 32.6 18.2
2012 833,666 100.0 4.0 24.5 17.0 38.4 16.1
2013 797,844 100.0 4.2 24.7 15.9 42.0 13.2
2014 780,756 100.0 4.1 24.4 14.4 42.4 14.6
2015 738,857 100.0 4.3 24.0 12.2 42.8 16.6
2016 699,563 100.0 4.4 23.4 10.6 43.4 18.2
2017 660,212 100.0 4.4 23.5 9.5 43.7 18.9
2018 617,037 100.0 4.1 24.2 9.0 42.7 20.0
2019 594,500 100.0 3.9 23.7 8.7 43.7 20.0
2020 513,849 100.0 3.7 21.7 8.5 41.9 24.2
2021 400,961 100.0 3.2 19.8 8.3 38.6 30.1
  Widow(er)s
1999 9,735 100.0 5.6 29.0 31.8 22.7 10.8
2000 9,024 100.0 5.3 29.0 31.4 22.3 12.1
2001 8,751 100.0 4.7 27.6 31.2 22.8 13.7
2002 8,959 100.0 4.8 25.5 32.9 23.9 13.0
2003 9,577 100.0 4.2 25.7 33.1 23.7 13.3
2004 9,576 100.0 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 8,986 100.0 2.8 28.8 30.2 22.2 16.0
2010 9,789 100.0 2.7 29.3 27.9 24.0 16.0
2011 9,909 100.0 2.9 28.1 26.9 24.9 17.2
2012 10,143 100.0 2.3 28.8 23.4 28.4 17.0
2013 10,252 100.0 2.4 28.6 22.2 32.6 14.3
2014 9,950 100.0 2.3 27.5 21.4 33.1 15.6
2015 9,138 100.0 2.3 26.3 20.5 33.5 17.4
2016 8,459 100.0 2.3 26.1 17.3 35.0 19.2
2017 8,052 100.0 2.1 25.9 17.5 34.1 20.5
2018 8,080 100.0 2.1 26.9 15.0 33.9 22.2
2019 9,679 100.0 1.5 28.5 13.8 33.2 23.0
2020 8,785 100.0 1.5 24.5 13.7 32.5 27.7
2021 7,009 100.0 1.3 22.2 12.1 31.1 33.2
  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 43,356 100.0 1.2 23.4 0.1 53.5 21.8
2010 48,039 100.0 1.2 24.7 0.1 53.1 20.9
2011 47,347 100.0 1.0 26.2 (L) 52.6 20.1
2012 47,314 100.0 0.9 27.7 (L) 51.9 19.4
2013 44,050 100.0 0.9 28.1 (L) 52.2 18.8
2014 40,354 100.0 0.9 29.4 0.0 50.5 19.1
2015 38,312 100.0 0.8 30.0 (L) 49.4 19.7
2016 35,337 100.0 0.8 29.4 (L) 49.1 20.7
2017 34,353 100.0 0.8 31.2 (L) 47.6 20.4
2018 35,517 100.0 0.6 35.4 (L) 42.9 21.1
2019 39,537 100.0 0.5 37.7 0.0 41.2 20.6
2020 32,152 100.0 0.5 36.8 0.0 39.5 23.2
2021 23,994 100.0 0.5 37.3 0.0 36.7 25.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2022. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2022.
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.
(L) = less than 0.05 percent.
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: statistics@ssa.gov.