SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2004

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, 1992–2003
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 1,041,432 1,681 770,905 77,306 38.3 44.8
1995 1,845,212 0 103,335 995,249 1,343 683,787 61,498 37.1 42.8
1996 1,786,770 0 113,027 938,577 1,886 671,729 61,551 37.6 43.8
1997 1,505,145 2,222 97,320 736,933 2,074 605,871 60,725 40.3 47.4
1998 1,520,538 2,944 95,990 699,024 3,830 655,925 62,825 43.2 50.6
1999 1,528,217 4,532 105,819 685,649 4,002 663,805 64,410 43.6 51.4
2000 1,612,826 10,037 156,525 683,660 3,822 689,861 68,921 43.0 52.5
2001 1,749,572 32,375 203,387 709,814 3,491 724,484 76,021 42.2 52.9
2002 1,959,337 124,849 279,522 763,028 3,123 715,399 73,416 39.0 50.7
2003 2,080,479 251,560 342,535 796,536 2,318 623,017 64,513 34.1 46.3
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 16,897 311,137 147 194,655 7,702 36.7 39.4
1995 491,638 0 14,364 306,301 92 163,893 6,988 33.3 35.8
1996 457,057 0 13,532 291,273 86 144,662 7,504 31.7 34.3
1997 334,975 149 10,906 195,592 69 121,428 6,831 36.3 39.6
1998 338,592 208 10,904 182,416 74 137,625 7,365 40.7 44.3
1999 345,067 331 11,898 182,155 68 142,803 7,812 41.4 45.3
2000 355,477 786 15,775 179,049 64 151,841 7,962 42.8 47.2
2001 375,975 2,933 18,710 180,138 61 165,612 8,521 44.4 49.1
2002 413,007 12,588 22,759 192,594 67 176,275 8,724 44.0 49.0
2003 432,887 25,676 25,857 196,967 45 175,663 8,679 43.1 48.3
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 0 106,181 729,927 1,529 575,431 69,435 38.8 46.9
1995 1,351,903 0 88,839 688,499 1,244 518,981 54,340 38.4 45.4
1996 1,277,604 0 87,869 646,659 1,534 488,052 53,490 38.2 45.5
1997 1,135,602 2,067 78,303 540,257 1,456 460,664 52,855 40.6 48.7
1998 1,133,015 2,733 76,709 514,550 1,859 483,286 53,878 42.8 51.0
1999 1,133,722 4,193 83,733 502,164 1,541 486,658 55,433 43.1 51.8
2000 1,208,866 9,242 127,968 503,581 1,422 506,661 59,992 42.2 52.9
2001 1,323,142 29,412 167,675 528,743 1,388 529,321 66,603 40.9 52.9
2002 1,483,914 112,126 231,073 569,433 1,223 506,260 63,799 36.9 50.0
2003 1,589,384 225,584 287,615 598,903 862 421,274 55,146 30.9 44.3
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, 1992–2003
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 1,546,185 595,925 38.5 860,922 338,218 39.3 685,263 257,707 37.6
2002 1,679,661 617,833 36.8 914,195 349,514 38.2 765,466 268,319 35.1
2003 1,737,617 620,985 35.7 923,377 346,539 37.5 814,240 274,446 33.7
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 357,265 157,730 44.1 332,724 146,688 44.1 24,541 11,042 45.0
2002 390,189 170,383 43.7 364,573 159,492 43.7 25,616 10,891 42.5
2003 407,014 176,076 43.3 383,098 166,513 43.5 23,916 9,563 40.0
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 1,155,467 408,901 35.4 505,101 172,232 34.1 650,366 236,669 36.4
2002 1,252,746 414,967 33.1 524,524 168,800 32.2 728,222 246,167 33.8
2003 1,301,460 418,843 32.2 523,442 165,948 31.7 778,018 252,895 32.5
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. 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, 1992–2003
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 65,355 13.6 249,224 32,511 13.0 231,369 32,844 14.2
1997 409,396 62,505 15.3 208,993 31,881 15.3 200,403 30,624 15.3
1998 390,212 61,271 15.7 203,132 31,818 15.7 187,080 29,453 15.7
1999 382,196 55,635 14.6 197,671 28,501 14.4 184,525 27,134 14.7
2000 382,757 53,166 13.9 192,285 26,456 13.8 190,472 26,710 14.0
2001 407,299 53,499 13.1 190,634 25,401 13.3 216,665 28,098 13.0
2002 453,821 54,818 12.1 205,410 25,616 12.5 248,411 29,202 11.8
2003 396,677 39,059 9.8 173,805 18,738 10.8 222,872 20,321 9.1
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 49,495 7,649 15.5 45,567 7,069 15.5 3,928 580 14.8
2002 55,949 8,214 14.7 51,738 7,602 14.7 4,211 612 14.5
2003 49,915 6,686 13.4 46,552 6,306 13.5 3,363 380 11.3
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 54,197 13.4 178,404 22,458 12.6 224,905 31,739 14.1
1997 355,514 52,597 14.8 159,694 22,951 14.4 195,820 29,646 15.1
1998 337,411 51,764 15.3 154,436 23,051 14.9 182,975 28,713 15.7
1999 330,830 47,254 14.3 150,460 20,864 13.9 180,370 26,390 14.6
2000 332,767 44,891 13.5 146,383 18,874 12.9 186,384 26,017 14.0
2001 356,236 45,104 12.7 143,740 17,767 12.4 212,496 27,337 12.9
2002 396,041 45,694 11.5 152,102 17,310 11.4 243,939 28,384 11.6
2003 345,549 31,796 9.2 126,274 12,038 9.5 219,275 19,758 9.0
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, 1992–2003
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 333,329 196,756 59.0 156,584 80,594 51.5 176,745 116,162 65.7
1995 300,958 170,763 56.7 145,570 70,419 48.4 155,388 100,344 64.6
1996 271,974 158,994 58.5 128,711 64,352 50.0 143,263 94,642 66.1
1997 236,513 144,794 61.2 111,233 59,609 53.6 125,280 85,185 68.0
1998 221,810 136,789 61.7 106,325 57,717 54.3 115,485 79,072 68.5
1999 226,982 141,082 62.2 109,077 59,306 54.4 117,905 81,776 69.4
2000 241,253 148,626 61.6 114,612 60,942 53.2 126,641 87,684 69.2
2001 242,041 151,081 62.4 107,306 57,189 53.3 134,735 93,892 69.7
2002 182,358 116,164 63.7 77,514 41,687 53.8 104,844 74,477 71.0
2003 42,332 27,486 64.9 18,594 9,804 52.7 23,738 17,682 74.5
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 13,222 34.1 34,869 11,860 34.0 3,882 1,362 35.1
1995 35,856 11,282 31.5 32,428 10,128 31.2 3,428 1,154 33.7
1996 28,105 9,145 32.5 25,589 8,288 32.4 2,516 857 34.1
1997 19,400 7,289 37.6 17,584 6,584 37.4 1,816 705 38.8
1998 18,696 7,219 38.6 17,014 6,523 38.3 1,682 696 41.4
1999 20,572 8,022 39.0 18,691 7,241 38.7 1,881 781 41.5
2000 23,792 9,022 37.9 21,643 8,120 37.5 2,149 902 42.0
2001 23,224 8,754 37.7 21,200 7,909 37.3 2,024 845 41.7
2002 16,916 6,402 37.8 15,567 5,876 37.7 1,349 526 39.0
2003 3,930 1,580 40.2 3,672 1,492 40.6 258 88 34.1
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 294,441 183,449 62.3 121,584 68,654 56.5 172,857 114,795 66.4
1995 264,954 159,384 60.2 113,002 60,201 53.3 151,952 99,183 65.3
1996 243,061 149,136 61.4 102,413 55,445 54.1 140,648 93,691 66.6
1997 216,158 136,709 63.2 92,759 52,283 56.4 123,399 84,426 68.4
1998 202,154 128,808 63.7 88,400 50,476 57.1 113,754 78,332 68.9
1999 205,811 132,591 64.4 89,833 51,636 57.5 115,978 80,955 69.8
2000 216,881 139,175 64.2 92,439 52,434 56.7 124,442 86,741 69.7
2001 218,279 141,919 65.0 85,613 48,904 57.1 132,666 93,015 70.1
2002 164,926 109,398 66.3 61,468 35,475 57.7 103,458 73,923 71.5
2003 38,215 25,781 67.5 14,756 8,207 55.6 23,459 17,574 74.9
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, 1992–2003
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 848,211 100.0 36.8 1.5 2.1 4.4 18.1 37.1
1995 745,285 100.0 35.8 1.6 2.5 4.3 18.6 37.2
1996 733,280 100.0 35.9 1.8 3.3 4.4 17.4 37.2
1997 666,596 100.0 37.6 1.8 4.3 4.7 18.4 33.3
1998 718,750 100.0 38.3 1.9 4.8 4.2 20.1 30.8
1999 728,215 100.0 36.7 2.0 5.3 4.0 20.9 31.2
2000 758,782 100.0 35.2 1.9 6.1 4.2 21.5 31.0
2001 800,505 100.0 35.3 1.8 7.1 4.2 22.5 29.0
2002 788,815 100.0 35.8 1.8 8.6 4.0 23.3 26.5
2003 687,530 100.0 39.6 2.1 11.0 4.4 26.0 17.0
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 202,357 100.0 45.6 6.5 8.6 . . . . . . 39.3
1995 170,881 100.0 44.8 7.0 11.0 . . . . . . 37.2
1996 152,166 100.0 52.7 8.7 16.0 . . . . . . 22.6
1997 128,259 100.0 55.8 9.2 22.1 . . . . . . 12.9
1998 144,990 100.0 55.6 9.6 23.6 . . . . . . 11.1
1999 150,615 100.0 53.2 9.8 25.8 . . . . . . 11.2
2000 159,803 100.0 50.2 9.2 29.0 . . . . . . 11.6
2001 174,133 100.0 48.5 8.3 32.5 . . . . . . 10.7
2002 184,999 100.0 45.9 7.8 36.6 . . . . . . 9.7
2003 184,342 100.0 45.2 7.7 41.1 . . . . . . 6.0
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 644,866 100.0 34.0 . . . . . . 5.8 23.8 36.4
1995 573,321 100.0 33.2 . . . . . . 5.6 24.0 37.2
1996 541,542 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 5.9 23.3 37.1
1997 513,519 100.0 34.5 . . . . . . 6.1 22.6 36.8
1998 537,164 100.0 35.6 . . . . . . 5.5 23.9 35.0
1999 542,091 100.0 34.1 . . . . . . 5.3 25.2 35.5
2000 566,653 100.0 32.7 . . . . . . 5.6 26.5 35.2
2001 595,924 100.0 33.1 . . . . . . 5.7 28.3 32.9
2002 570,059 100.0 34.5 . . . . . . 5.5 30.3 29.8
2003 476,420 100.0 39.5 . . . . . . 6.3 35.9 18.3
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, 1992–2003
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 agesd
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 1,043,113 100.0 6.2 20.7 . . . 13.6 23.3 36.1
1995 996,592 100.0 6.2 19.7 . . . 12.4 22.4 39.2
1996 940,463 100.0 6.4 20.6 5.8 12.1 22.9 32.2
1997 739,007 100.0 6.9 16.7 16.2 13.0 25.1 22.1
1998 702,854 100.0 6.9 15.0 18.3 14.6 25.3 19.9
1999 689,651 100.0 6.7 14.0 19.1 15.5 24.5 20.2
2000 687,482 100.0 6.5 13.4 18.8 15.7 24.1 21.6
2001 713,305 100.0 6.1 13.2 18.4 16.4 25.7 20.0
2002 766,151 100.0 5.8 13.0 18.4 16.4 25.6 20.8
2003 798,854 100.0 5.3 12.0 18.5 16.6 26.2 21.4
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 311,284 100.0 1.4 22.4 . . . . . . . . . 76.2
1995 306,393 100.0 1.3 21.8 . . . . . . . . . 76.9
1996 291,359 100.0 1.4 26.9 18.7 . . . . . . 53.0
1997 195,661 100.0 1.6 19.1 61.4 . . . . . . 18.0
1998 182,490 100.0 1.3 14.5 70.6 . . . . . . 13.7
1999 182,223 100.0 1.1 13.3 72.4 . . . . . . 13.2
2000 179,113 100.0 1.1 13.2 72.1 . . . . . . 13.6
2001 180,199 100.0 1.1 14.1 72.9 . . . . . . 12.0
2002 192,661 100.0 1.0 13.6 73.2 . . . . . . 12.2
2003 197,012 100.0 1.0 12.5 74.9 . . . . . . 11.6
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 731,456 100.0 8.3 20.0 . . . 19.4 33.2 19.1
1995 689,743 100.0 8.4 18.8 . . . 17.9 32.4 22.5
1996 648,193 100.0 8.6 17.8 . . . 17.5 33.3 22.8
1997 541,713 100.0 8.8 15.8 . . . 17.7 34.2 23.6
1998 516,409 100.0 8.9 14.9 . . . 19.7 34.4 22.0
1999 503,705 100.0 8.7 14.1 . . . 21.0 33.5 22.7
2000 505,003 100.0 8.4 13.2 . . . 21.2 32.8 24.4
2001 530,131 100.0 7.9 12.8 . . . 22.0 34.6 22.7
2002 570,656 100.0 7.4 12.8 . . . 21.9 34.3 23.6
2003 599,765 100.0 6.8 11.7 . . . 22.0 34.9 24.6
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 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.