SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2003

Outcomes of Applications for Disability Benefits

Notes

The tables in this section provide data on the outcomes of applications for SSI benefits based on blindness or disability. The data on applications are derived from the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) Disability Research File (DRF) maintained by the Office of Disability Programs. Each year the DRF is updated with information about applications for disability benefits that is then used to determine the outcome of those applications. The outcome data in these tables are reported by year of filing and include decisions made through the administrative appeals process.

Table 53 shows the total number of applications filed in a year, the number that are pending a final decision, the number denied for nonmedical reasons before a medical decision is made (technical denials), the outcome of applications for which a medical allowance or denial was made, and award and allowance rates. Applications for which a medical allowance or denial decision was made but which were subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons are shown under the medical decision header as subsequent denials. The most common nonmedical reason for denying a claim is excess income.

The allowance rate is calculated by dividing the number of medical allowances (including subsequent technical denials) by the total number of medical decisions made for a 1-year cohort. The award rate is a broader program measure that is calculated as the number of allowances minus subsequent denials divided by total applications (minus pending claims) filed for a given year.

Claims that remain pending after 6 years are probably the result of imperfect data rather than excessive delays in the decisionmaking process. It is highly probable that decisions have been rendered on most of the older claims. For more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change as decisions are made on pending claims.

Tables 54–56 show the allowance rate for SSI only and the SSI portion of concurrent (a claim for both Social Security and SSI disability benefits) applications, one for each level in the administrative decisionmaking process, that is, initial, reconsideration, and hearing or higher level.

Beginning with fiscal year 2000, the proportion of claims awarded at each level of the process changed as a result of the Prototype Process being tested in 10 states. Under this test, the reconsideration step of the appeals process was eliminated for applications filed October 1, 1999, or later. Elimination of the reconsideration level in these states results in a decrease in the aggregate proportion of claims awarded at this step.

This section also includes one table that shows the reason for medical allowance and one that shows reason for medical denial (Tables 57 and 58). The reasons are derived from the sequential evaluation process used by decisionmakers. SSA maintains a list of impairments that are considered disabling under its regulations. An applicant can be found to be disabled if he or she

  • has a listed impairment,
  • has a severe impairment that is equal to a listed impairment,
  • has a severe impairment when medical and vocational factors are considered, or
  • had previously established entitlement to a disability benefit.
An applicant can be denied benefits if he or she
  • has an impairment that is not expected to last 12 months;
  • has an impairment that is not considered severe;
  • is able to perform his or her usual type of work;
  • is able to perform another type of work; or
  • provides insufficient medical evidence, fails to cooperate, fails to follow prescribed treatment, does not want to continue development of the claim, or returns to substantial work before disability can be established.
Table 53. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by age and year of application, 1992–2002
Year Total Pending
final
decision		 Technical
denials a		 Medical decisions Award
rate b
(percent)		 Allowance
rate c
(percent)
Denials Allowances
Medical Subsequent
nonmedical d		 Awards Subsequent
denials e
All ages f
1992 1,828,951 0 134,438 741,839 1,556 860,875 90,243 47.1 56.1
1993 2,048,945 0 141,214 937,757 1,600 878,932 89,442 42.9 50.8
1994 2,014,499 0 123,175 1,041,522 1,681 770,815 77,306 38.3 44.8
1995 1,845,212 0 103,335 995,374 1,343 683,662 61,498 37.1 42.8
1996 1,786,770 2,645 113,027 936,140 1,886 671,521 61,551 37.6 43.9
1997 1,505,145 3,015 97,320 736,519 2,072 605,492 60,727 40.3 47.4
1998 1,520,538 4,602 95,990 698,134 3,828 655,151 62,833 43.2 50.6
1999 1,528,217 8,079 105,819 683,597 4,001 662,302 64,419 43.6 51.4
2000 1,612,826 23,155 156,525 676,141 3,816 684,244 68,945 43.0 52.6
2001 1,748,974 85,113 205,290 692,196 3,134 695,069 68,172 41.8 52.3
2002 1,935,631 237,788 279,693 728,841 2,609 629,193 57,507 37.1 48.4
Under age 18
1992 376,812 0 16,695 148,221 103 204,083 7,710 54.2 58.8
1993 500,676 0 18,788 240,668 135 232,344 8,741 46.4 50.0
1994 530,538 0 16,897 311,142 147 194,650 7,702 36.7 39.4
1995 491,638 0 14,364 306,307 92 163,887 6,988 33.3 35.8
1996 457,057 197 13,532 291,085 86 144,653 7,504 31.7 34.3
1997 334,975 188 10,906 195,570 69 121,411 6,831 36.3 39.6
1998 338,592 314 10,904 182,345 74 137,590 7,365 40.7 44.3
1999 345,067 567 11,898 181,998 68 142,724 7,812 41.4 45.3
2000 355,477 1,984 15,775 178,217 64 151,475 7,962 42.9 47.2
2001 375,944 8,419 18,917 176,863 59 163,666 8,020 44.5 49.2
2002 408,260 24,395 22,893 183,769 52 169,152 7,999 44.1 49.1
Aged 18–64
1992 1,451,417 0 117,675 593,455 1,451 656,374 82,462 45.2 55.4
1993 1,547,527 0 122,364 696,934 1,463 646,157 80,609 41.8 51.0
1994 1,482,503 0 106,181 730,012 1,529 575,346 69,435 38.8 46.8
1995 1,351,903 0 88,839 688,618 1,244 518,862 54,340 38.4 45.4
1996 1,277,604 2,444 87,869 644,414 1,534 487,853 53,490 38.3 45.6
1997 1,135,602 2,821 78,303 539,865 1,454 460,302 52,857 40.6 48.7
1998 1,133,015 4,282 76,709 513,732 1,858 482,548 53,886 42.8 51.0
1999 1,133,722 7,501 83,733 500,272 1,540 485,234 55,442 43.1 51.9
2000 1,208,866 21,151 127,968 496,900 1,417 501,414 60,016 42.2 53.0
2001 1,322,450 76,613 169,179 514,444 1,144 501,774 59,296 40.3 52.1
2002 1,464,892 213,043 230,840 544,165 782 427,429 48,633 34.1 46.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2003. Data for the hearing level or above are current through September 2003.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time. Cases can be pending at the initial or appellate levels and can include either medical or technical issues.
Includes decisions for SSI-only applications and applications for both Social Security and SSI. Does not include Social Security–only applications.
a. Applications denied for nonmedical reasons so no decision was made on severity of impairment.
b. Rate determined by dividing awards by all applications minus pending claims for that year.
c. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
d. Applications denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that applicant did not meet the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
e. Applications denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that applicant met the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
f. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 54. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2002
Year All decisions Decisions on applications
for SSI only		 Decisions on applications
for both Social Security and SSI
Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)		 Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)		 Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)
All ages b
1992 1,694,513 686,962 40.5 946,348 399,334 42.2 748,165 287,628 38.4
1993 1,907,731 687,630 36.0 1,106,624 409,102 37.0 801,107 278,528 34.8
1994 1,891,324 577,721 30.5 1,105,532 335,756 30.4 785,792 241,965 30.8
1995 1,741,877 507,742 29.1 1,037,201 291,168 28.1 704,676 216,574 30.7
1996 1,673,743 508,931 30.4 1,000,530 296,655 29.6 673,213 212,276 31.5
1997 1,407,825 459,297 32.6 820,527 260,354 31.7 587,298 198,943 33.9
1998 1,424,548 520,690 36.6 843,671 304,856 36.1 580,877 215,834 37.2
1999 1,422,398 531,498 37.4 843,031 312,871 37.1 579,367 218,627 37.7
2000 1,456,301 556,990 38.2 845,623 321,029 38.0 610,678 235,961 38.6
2001 1,543,548 593,569 38.5 878,572 341,520 38.9 664,976 252,049 37.9
2002 1,655,618 607,015 36.7 922,985 349,447 37.9 732,633 257,568 35.2
Under age 18
1992 360,117 194,494 54.0 329,316 176,929 53.7 30,801 17,565 57.0
1993 481,888 218,724 45.4 443,778 200,206 45.1 38,110 18,518 48.6
1994 513,641 177,660 34.6 475,233 164,436 34.6 38,408 13,224 34.4
1995 477,274 149,140 31.2 443,367 138,959 31.3 33,907 10,181 30.0
1996 443,525 133,375 30.1 413,379 124,846 30.2 30,146 8,529 28.3
1997 324,069 112,387 34.7 302,540 105,366 34.8 21,529 7,021 32.6
1998 327,688 129,729 39.6 306,164 121,371 39.6 21,524 8,358 38.8
1999 333,169 135,117 40.6 310,763 126,253 40.6 22,406 8,864 39.6
2000 339,702 143,267 42.2 316,328 133,426 42.2 23,374 9,841 42.1
2001 357,010 157,464 44.1 333,824 147,551 44.2 23,186 9,913 42.8
2002 385,325 168,406 43.7 362,305 159,017 43.9 23,020 9,389 40.8
Aged 18–64
1992 1,333,742 492,046 36.9 616,523 222,077 36.0 717,219 269,969 37.6
1993 1,425,163 468,477 32.9 662,298 208,554 31.5 762,865 259,923 34.1
1994 1,376,322 399,267 29.0 629,051 170,618 27.1 747,271 228,649 30.6
1995 1,263,064 357,732 28.3 592,390 151,417 25.6 670,674 206,315 30.8
1996 1,189,735 338,209 28.4 555,158 142,505 25.7 634,577 195,704 30.8
1997 1,057,299 324,213 30.7 498,637 139,003 27.9 558,662 185,210 33.2
1998 1,056,306 356,592 33.8 506,024 157,861 31.2 550,282 198,731 36.1
1999 1,049,989 362,246 34.5 502,870 162,036 32.2 547,119 200,210 36.6
2000 1,080,898 382,587 35.4 503,636 166,188 33.0 577,262 216,399 37.5
2001 1,153,153 406,698 35.3 521,841 174,697 33.5 631,312 232,001 36.7
2002 1,233,774 406,125 32.9 535,876 169,333 31.6 697,898 236,792 33.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2003.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 55. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2002
Year All decisions Decisions on applications
for SSI only		 Decisions on applications
for both Social Security and SSI
Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)		 Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)		 Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)
All ages b
1992 479,152 74,500 15.5 234,057 38,371 16.4 245,095 36,129 14.7
1993 557,384 75,559 13.6 280,174 38,663 13.8 277,210 36,896 13.3
1994 571,602 73,734 12.9 290,341 36,826 12.7 281,261 36,908 13.1
1995 522,987 66,780 12.8 275,013 33,432 12.2 247,974 33,348 13.4
1996 480,593 65,357 13.6 249,224 32,511 13.0 231,369 32,846 14.2
1997 409,396 62,509 15.3 208,993 31,881 15.3 200,403 30,628 15.3
1998 390,212 61,279 15.7 203,132 31,819 15.7 187,080 29,460 15.7
1999 382,196 55,646 14.6 197,671 28,503 14.4 184,525 27,143 14.7
2000 382,757 53,194 13.9 192,285 26,459 13.8 190,472 26,735 14.0
2001 403,402 52,041 12.9 197,161 25,075 12.7 206,241 26,966 13.1
2002 393,638 39,937 10.1 187,438 20,025 10.7 206,200 19,912 9.7
Under age 18
1992 49,099 9,570 19.5 44,562 8,590 19.3 4,537 980 21.6
1993 75,816 11,440 15.1 69,176 10,355 15.0 6,640 1,085 16.3
1994 91,854 11,475 12.5 83,789 10,461 12.5 8,065 1,014 12.6
1995 86,651 10,459 12.1 79,397 9,625 12.1 7,254 834 11.5
1996 74,836 9,646 12.9 68,797 8,863 12.9 6,039 783 13.0
1997 51,365 8,583 16.7 47,131 7,883 16.7 4,234 700 16.5
1998 49,909 8,042 16.1 45,989 7,417 16.1 3,920 625 15.9
1999 49,456 7,476 15.1 45,465 6,839 15.0 3,991 637 16.0
2000 48,361 7,514 15.5 44,462 6,951 15.6 3,899 563 14.4
2001 49,211 7,475 15.2 45,507 6,973 15.3 3,704 502 13.6
2002 48,697 6,512 13.4 45,412 6,100 13.4 3,285 412 12.5
Aged 18–64
1992 429,944 64,891 15.1 189,409 29,744 15.7 240,535 35,147 14.6
1993 481,434 64,074 13.3 210,882 28,268 13.4 270,552 35,806 13.2
1994 479,439 62,150 13.0 206,253 26,260 12.7 273,186 35,890 13.1
1995 435,988 56,205 12.9 195,281 23,695 12.1 240,707 32,510 13.5
1996 403,309 54,199 13.4 178,404 22,458 12.6 224,905 31,741 14.1
1997 355,514 52,601 14.8 159,694 22,951 14.4 195,820 29,650 15.1
1998 337,411 51,772 15.3 154,436 23,052 14.9 182,975 28,720 15.7
1999 330,830 47,265 14.3 150,460 20,866 13.9 180,370 26,399 14.6
2000 332,767 44,919 13.5 146,383 18,877 12.9 186,384 26,042 14.0
2001 352,675 43,843 12.4 150,368 17,551 11.7 202,307 26,292 13.0
2002 343,338 32,647 9.5 140,650 13,329 9.5 202,688 19,318 9.5
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2003.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
A revised process was introduced on October 1, 1999, in 10 states, under which initial denials could be appealed directly to the hearing level without a reconsideration.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 56. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2002
Year All decisions Decisions on applications
for SSI only		 Decisions on applications
for both Social Security and SSI
Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)		 Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)		 Total Allowances Allowance
rate a
(percent)
All ages b
1992 280,751 189,656 67.6 128,789 79,307 61.6 151,962 110,349 72.6
1993 327,271 205,185 62.7 153,126 85,195 55.6 174,145 119,990 68.9
1994 333,326 196,666 59.0 156,581 80,556 51.4 176,745 116,110 65.7
1995 300,958 170,638 56.7 145,570 70,360 48.3 155,388 100,278 64.5
1996 269,327 158,784 59.0 127,583 64,262 50.4 141,744 94,522 66.7
1997 235,716 144,413 61.3 110,852 59,444 53.6 124,864 84,969 68.0
1998 220,143 136,015 61.8 105,430 57,333 54.4 114,713 78,682 68.6
1999 223,424 139,577 62.5 107,237 58,587 54.6 116,187 80,990 69.7
2000 228,103 143,005 62.7 107,900 58,249 54.0 120,203 84,756 70.5
2001 186,360 117,631 63.1 86,124 46,075 53.5 100,236 71,556 71.4
2002 62,024 39,748 64.1 28,918 15,447 53.4 33,106 24,301 73.4
Under age 18
1992 19,988 7,729 38.7 17,979 6,890 38.3 2,009 839 41.8
1993 31,658 10,921 34.5 28,625 9,784 34.2 3,033 1,137 37.5
1994 38,751 13,217 34.1 34,869 11,855 34.0 3,882 1,362 35.1
1995 35,856 11,276 31.4 32,428 10,123 31.2 3,428 1,153 33.6
1996 27,908 9,136 32.7 25,411 8,279 32.6 2,497 857 34.3
1997 19,361 7,272 37.6 17,547 6,568 37.4 1,814 704 38.8
1998 18,590 7,184 38.6 16,915 6,491 38.4 1,675 693 41.4
1999 20,336 7,943 39.1 18,476 7,169 38.8 1,860 774 41.6
2000 22,594 8,656 38.3 20,557 7,789 37.9 2,037 867 42.6
2001 17,685 6,747 38.2 16,251 6,164 37.9 1,434 583 40.7
2002 5,670 2,233 39.4 5,256 2,060 39.2 414 173 41.8
Aged 18–64
1992 260,727 181,899 69.8 110,785 72,398 65.4 149,942 109,501 73.0
1993 295,551 194,215 65.7 124,445 75,368 60.6 171,106 118,847 69.5
1994 294,438 183,364 62.3 121,581 68,621 56.4 172,857 114,743 66.4
1995 264,954 159,265 60.1 113,002 60,147 53.2 151,952 99,118 65.2
1996 240,615 148,935 61.9 101,466 55,364 54.6 139,149 93,571 67.2
1997 215,400 136,345 63.3 92,415 52,134 56.4 122,985 84,211 68.5
1998 200,596 128,070 63.8 87,607 50,125 57.2 112,989 77,945 69.0
1999 202,492 131,165 64.8 88,210 50,989 57.8 114,282 80,176 70.2
2000 204,940 133,924 65.3 86,822 50,075 57.7 118,118 83,849 71.0
2001 168,208 110,529 65.7 69,447 39,586 57.0 98,761 70,943 71.8
2002 56,072 37,290 66.5 23,401 13,179 56.3 32,671 24,111 73.8
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through September 2003.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
A revised process was introduced on October 1, 1999, in 10 states, under which initial denials could be appealed directly to the hearing level without a reconsideration.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 57. Percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by age, year of application, and reason for allowance, 1992–2002
Year Total Meets level
of severity
of listings a		 Under age 18 only Aged 18 or older only Other a,b
Number Percent Medically
equals level
of severity
of listings		 Functionally
equals level
of severity
of listings		 Equals level
of severity
of listings		 Medical and
vocational
factors
considered
All ages c
1992 951,118 100.0 36.6 1.5 1.3 7.5 18.6 34.4
1993 968,374 100.0 36.5 1.5 1.6 5.5 17.4 37.6
1994 848,121 100.0 36.8 1.5 2.1 4.4 18.1 37.1
1995 745,160 100.0 35.8 1.6 2.5 4.3 18.6 37.2
1996 733,072 100.0 35.9 1.8 3.3 4.4 17.4 37.1
1997 666,219 100.0 37.6 1.8 4.3 4.7 18.4 33.3
1998 717,984 100.0 38.3 1.9 4.8 4.2 20.1 30.7
1999 726,721 100.0 36.8 2.0 5.3 4.0 20.9 31.0
2000 753,189 100.0 35.5 2.0 6.1 4.2 21.7 30.5
2001 763,241 100.0 35.7 1.8 7.2 4.3 22.5 28.4
2002 686,700 100.0 38.8 2.0 9.4 4.3 24.4 21.0
Under age 18
1992 211,793 100.0 48.3 6.9 5.9 . . . . . . 38.9
1993 241,085 100.0 44.9 5.9 6.4 . . . . . . 42.7
1994 202,352 100.0 45.6 6.5 8.6 . . . . . . 39.3
1995 170,875 100.0 44.8 7.0 11.0 . . . . . . 37.2
1996 152,157 100.0 52.7 8.7 16.0 . . . . . . 22.6
1997 128,242 100.0 55.8 9.2 22.2 . . . . . . 12.8
1998 144,955 100.0 55.6 9.6 23.6 . . . . . . 11.1
1999 150,536 100.0 53.2 9.8 25.8 . . . . . . 11.2
2000 159,437 100.0 50.3 9.2 29.0 . . . . . . 11.4
2001 171,686 100.0 47.8 8.2 32.2 . . . . . . 11.8
2002 177,151 100.0 45.9 7.8 36.6 . . . . . . 9.7
Aged 18–64
1992 738,836 100.0 33.3 . . . . . . 9.7 23.9 33.2
1993 726,766 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 7.3 23.1 35.9
1994 644,781 100.0 34.0 . . . . . . 5.8 23.8 36.4
1995 573,202 100.0 33.2 . . . . . . 5.6 24.1 37.2
1996 541,343 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 5.9 23.3 37.1
1997 513,159 100.0 34.5 . . . . . . 6.1 22.6 36.8
1998 536,434 100.0 35.6 . . . . . . 5.5 23.9 34.9
1999 540,676 100.0 34.1 . . . . . . 5.3 25.2 35.4
2000 561,430 100.0 33.0 . . . . . . 5.6 26.7 34.6
2001 561,070 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 5.8 28.6 31.8
2002 476,062 100.0 38.7 . . . . . . 6.1 33.0 22.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2003. Data for the hearing level or above are current through September 2003.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the numbers and percentages will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Includes decisions for SSI-only applications and applications for both Social Security and SSI. Does not include Social Security–only applications.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Includes all age groups.
b. Includes applications for which the disability was previously established and those for which the basis for the determination is not available. For final determinations made in or before August 1996 for applicants under age 18, also includes applications allowed because individual functional assessment showed impairment of comparable severity.
c. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.
Table 58. Percentage distribution of final medical denials, by age, year of application, and reason for denial, 1992–2002
Year Total Impairment did not or is not expected to last 12 months Impairment is not severe Impairment does not cause severe functional limitations a Able to do
usual past
work b		 Able to do
other type
of work b		 Other c
Number Percent
All ages d
1992 743,395 100.0 7.3 22.1 . . . 17.5 26.3 26.9
1993 939,357 100.0 6.6 21.2 . . . 15.4 24.8 31.9
1994 1,043,203 100.0 6.2 20.7 . . . 13.6 23.3 36.1
1995 996,717 100.0 6.2 19.7 . . . 12.4 22.4 39.2
1996 938,026 100.0 6.4 20.6 5.8 12.1 22.9 32.2
1997 738,591 100.0 6.9 16.7 16.3 13.0 25.1 22.1
1998 701,962 100.0 6.9 15.0 18.3 14.6 25.3 19.9
1999 687,598 100.0 6.7 14.0 19.2 15.5 24.4 20.2
2000 679,957 100.0 6.5 13.4 18.9 15.6 23.9 21.7
2001 695,330 100.0 6.1 12.8 17.9 15.5 24.1 23.7
2002 731,450 100.0 5.8 12.6 17.8 15.7 24.2 23.9
Under age 18
1992 148,324 100.0 1.5 22.7 . . . . . . . . . 75.8
1993 240,803 100.0 1.3 21.8 . . . . . . . . . 76.9
1994 311,289 100.0 1.4 22.4 . . . . . . . . . 76.2
1995 306,399 100.0 1.3 21.8 . . . . . . . . . 76.9
1996 291,171 100.0 1.4 26.9 18.7 . . . . . . 53.0
1997 195,639 100.0 1.6 19.1 61.3 . . . . . . 18.0
1998 182,419 100.0 1.3 14.5 70.6 . . . . . . 13.7
1999 182,066 100.0 1.1 13.3 72.4 . . . . . . 13.2
2000 178,281 100.0 1.1 13.3 72.0 . . . . . . 13.6
2001 176,922 100.0 1.1 13.8 70.2 . . . . . . 14.9
2002 183,821 100.0 1.0 13.4 70.8 . . . . . . 14.8
Aged 18–64
1992 594,906 100.0 8.8 21.9 . . . 21.8 32.8 14.7
1993 698,397 100.0 8.4 21.0 . . . 20.7 33.4 16.4
1994 731,541 100.0 8.3 20.0 . . . 19.4 33.2 19.1
1995 689,862 100.0 8.4 18.8 . . . 17.9 32.4 22.5
1996 645,948 100.0 8.7 17.8 . . . 17.5 33.2 22.8
1997 541,319 100.0 8.8 15.8 . . . 17.7 34.2 23.5
1998 515,590 100.0 8.9 15.0 . . . 19.7 34.4 22.0
1999 501,812 100.0 8.7 14.1 . . . 21.0 33.5 22.8
2000 498,317 100.0 8.4 13.3 . . . 21.1 32.6 24.6
2001 515,588 100.0 7.8 12.4 . . . 20.8 32.4 26.6
2002 544,947 100.0 7.5 12.2 . . . 20.9 32.4 26.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2003. Data for the hearing level or above are current through September 2003.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the numbers and percentages will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Includes decisions for SSI-only applications and applications for both Social Security and SSI. Does not include Social Security–only applications.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Used only for applicants under age 18. Category effective for final determinations made August 1996 or later.
b. Used only for applicants aged 18 or older.
c. Applicant provided insufficient evidence, failed to cooperate, failed to follow prescribed treatment, did not want to continue development of the claim, or returned to substantial work before disability could be established. For final determinations made August 1996 or before for applicants under age 18, also includes claims denied because individual functional assessment showed impairment not of comparable severity.
d. Includes applicants aged 65 or older.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.asr@ssa.gov.