SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2005

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 44 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 45–47 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 48 and 49). 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 44. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by age and year of application, 1992–2004
Year Total Pending
final
decision		 Technical
denials a		 Medical decisions Award
rate b
percent)		 Allowance
rate c
(percent)
Denials Allowances
Medical Subsequent
nonmedical d		 Awards Subsequent
denials e
All 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 0 103,335 995,185 1,344 683,850 61,498 37.1 42.8
1996 1,786,770 0 113,027 938,464 1,886 671,843 61,550 37.6 43.8
1997 1,505,145 0 97,320 738,969 2,074 606,062 60,720 40.3 47.4
1998 1,520,538 2,198 95,990 699,409 3,830 656,289 62,822 43.2 50.6
1999 1,528,217 2,976 105,819 686,485 4,003 664,525 64,409 43.6 51.4
2000 1,612,826 5,241 156,525 686,473 3,823 691,858 68,906 43.0 52.4
2001 1,749,572 11,864 203,387 721,093 3,499 733,743 75,986 42.2 52.8
2002 1,959,039 43,587 278,291 789,981 3,527 760,967 82,686 39.7 51.5
2003 2,113,075 160,188 343,619 809,717 2,998 715,701 80,852 36.6 49.5
2004 2,220,308 270,992 432,600 821,370 2,298 625,809 67,239 32.1 45.7
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 14,364 306,298 92 163,896 6,988 33.3 35.8
1996 457,057 0 13,532 291,268 86 144,667 7,504 31.7 34.3
1997 334,975 0 10,906 195,733 69 121,436 6,831 36.3 39.6
1998 338,592 169 10,904 182,437 74 137,643 7,365 40.7 44.3
1999 345,067 243 11,898 182,211 68 142,835 7,812 41.4 45.2
2000 355,477 420 15,775 179,324 64 151,932 7,962 42.8 47.1
2001 375,975 907 18,710 181,599 61 166,177 8,521 44.3 49.0
2002 412,972 4,033 22,678 197,871 77 179,228 9,085 43.8 48.8
2003 438,632 15,274 25,929 205,119 59 183,085 9,166 43.2 48.4
2004 446,841 26,790 31,688 202,042 71 177,313 8,937 42.2 48.0
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 88,839 688,438 1,245 519,041 54,340 38.4 45.4
1996 1,277,604 0 87,869 646,551 1,534 488,161 53,489 38.2 45.5
1997 1,135,602 0 78,303 542,146 1,456 460,847 52,850 40.6 48.6
1998 1,133,015 2,026 76,709 514,914 1,859 483,632 53,875 42.8 51.0
1999 1,133,722 2,727 83,733 502,944 1,542 487,344 55,432 43.1 51.8
2000 1,208,866 4,817 127,968 506,117 1,423 508,564 59,977 42.2 52.8
2001 1,323,142 10,942 167,675 538,552 1,396 538,009 66,568 41.0 52.8
2002 1,483,791 39,510 230,118 591,037 1,544 548,951 72,631 38.0 51.2
2003 1,616,207 144,790 288,775 603,859 1,482 506,359 70,942 34.4 48.8
2004 1,712,073 243,992 366,883 618,788 1,003 423,736 57,671 28.9 43.7
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2005. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2005.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the award and allowance rates will change over time. Cases can be pending at the initial or appellate levels and can include either medical or technical issues.
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 45. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2004
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 1,680,748 619,748 36.9 904,266 345,482 38.2 776,482 274,266 35.3
2003 1,769,338 633,354 35.8 926,968 347,421 37.5 842,370 285,933 33.9
2004 1,787,323 631,845 35.4 927,118 345,118 37.2 860,205 286,727 33.3
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 390,294 170,542 43.7 363,020 158,263 43.6 27,274 12,279 45.0
2003 412,690 178,249 43.2 385,946 166,958 43.3 26,744 11,291 42.2
2004 415,111 178,662 43.0 390,274 168,586 43.2 24,837 10,076 40.6
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 1,253,673 416,823 33.2 515,934 165,906 32.2 737,739 250,917 34.0
2003 1,327,329 429,012 32.3 523,909 166,234 31.7 803,420 262,778 32.7
2004 1,344,847 428,371 31.9 522,582 164,485 31.5 822,265 263,886 32.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2005.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the 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 46. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2004
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 65,353 13.6 249,224 32,510 13.0 231,369 32,843 14.2
1997 409,396 62,498 15.3 208,993 31,881 15.3 200,403 30,617 15.3
1998 390,212 61,267 15.7 203,132 31,818 15.7 187,080 29,449 15.7
1999 382,196 55,630 14.6 197,671 28,500 14.4 184,525 27,130 14.7
2000 382,757 53,149 13.9 192,285 26,456 13.8 190,472 26,693 14.0
2001 407,299 53,460 13.1 190,634 25,396 13.3 216,665 28,064 13.0
2002 458,317 56,098 12.2 203,464 25,786 12.7 254,853 30,312 11.9
2003 483,020 55,830 11.6 204,770 24,487 12.0 278,250 31,343 11.3
2004 397,718 38,715 9.7 167,846 17,572 10.5 229,872 21,143 9.2
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 56,273 8,312 14.8 51,775 7,620 14.7 4,498 692 15.4
2003 59,279 8,337 14.1 54,842 7,734 14.1 4,437 603 13.6
2004 49,018 6,293 12.8 45,751 5,946 13.0 3,267 347 10.6
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 54,195 13.4 178,404 22,457 12.6 224,905 31,738 14.1
1997 355,514 52,590 14.8 159,694 22,951 14.4 195,820 29,639 15.1
1998 337,411 51,760 15.3 154,436 23,051 14.9 182,975 28,709 15.7
1999 330,830 47,249 14.3 150,460 20,863 13.9 180,370 26,386 14.6
2000 332,767 44,874 13.5 146,383 18,874 12.9 186,384 26,000 13.9
2001 356,236 45,065 12.7 143,740 17,762 12.4 212,496 27,303 12.8
2002 400,138 46,856 11.7 150,064 17,455 11.6 250,074 29,401 11.8
2003 422,369 46,848 11.1 148,810 16,296 11.0 273,559 30,552 11.2
2004 347,794 31,973 9.2 121,433 11,363 9.4 226,361 20,610 9.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2005.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the 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 47. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2004
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 300,958 170,826 56.8 145,570 70,445 48.4 155,388 100,381 64.6
1996 271,976 159,109 58.5 128,712 64,405 50.0 143,264 94,704 66.1
1997 238,742 144,987 60.7 112,201 59,693 53.2 126,541 85,294 67.4
1998 222,560 137,154 61.6 106,678 57,889 54.3 115,882 79,265 68.4
1999 228,543 141,806 62.0 109,837 59,636 54.3 118,706 82,170 69.2
2000 246,066 150,625 61.2 117,141 61,968 52.9 128,925 88,657 68.8
2001 262,596 160,344 61.1 117,030 61,232 52.3 145,566 99,112 68.1
2002 268,640 167,807 62.5 111,943 59,188 52.9 156,697 108,619 69.3
2003 166,920 107,369 64.3 65,697 34,884 53.1 101,223 72,485 71.6
2004 32,489 22,488 69.2 13,068 7,145 54.7 19,421 15,343 79.0
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 11,285 31.5 32,428 10,131 31.2 3,428 1,154 33.7
1996 28,105 9,150 32.6 25,589 8,292 32.4 2,516 858 34.1
1997 19,549 7,297 37.3 17,723 6,591 37.2 1,826 706 38.7
1998 18,735 7,237 38.6 17,049 6,541 38.4 1,686 696 41.3
1999 20,660 8,054 39.0 18,767 7,268 38.7 1,893 786 41.5
2000 24,158 9,113 37.7 21,975 8,204 37.3 2,183 909 41.6
2001 25,250 9,319 36.9 23,062 8,436 36.6 2,188 883 40.4
2002 25,685 9,459 36.8 23,464 8,570 36.5 2,221 889 40.0
2003 15,338 5,665 36.9 14,122 5,193 36.8 1,216 472 38.8
2004 2,826 1,295 45.8 2,635 1,205 45.7 191 90 47.1
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 264,954 159,444 60.2 113,002 60,224 53.3 151,952 99,220 65.3
1996 243,063 149,246 61.4 102,414 55,494 54.2 140,649 93,752 66.7
1997 218,232 136,894 62.7 93,582 52,360 56.0 124,650 84,534 67.8
1998 202,865 129,155 63.7 88,718 50,630 57.1 114,147 78,525 68.8
1999 207,282 133,281 64.3 90,515 51,937 57.4 116,767 81,344 69.7
2000 221,323 141,080 63.7 94,631 53,373 56.4 126,692 87,707 69.2
2001 236,793 150,611 63.6 93,460 52,414 56.1 143,333 98,197 68.5
2002 242,315 157,903 65.2 87,882 50,205 57.1 154,433 107,698 69.7
2003 151,200 101,441 67.1 51,232 29,462 57.5 99,968 71,979 72.0
2004 29,521 21,063 71.3 10,309 5,827 56.5 19,212 15,236 79.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through July 2005.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the 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 48. Percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by age, year of application, and reason for allowance, 1992–2004
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 745,348 100.0 35.8 1.6 2.5 4.3 18.6 37.2
1996 733,393 100.0 35.9 1.8 3.3 4.4 17.4 37.2
1997 666,782 100.0 37.6 1.8 4.3 4.7 18.4 33.3
1998 719,111 100.0 38.2 1.9 4.8 4.2 20.1 30.8
1999 728,934 100.0 36.6 2.0 5.3 4.0 20.8 31.2
2000 760,764 100.0 35.1 1.9 6.1 4.2 21.4 31.2
2001 809,729 100.0 34.9 1.8 7.0 4.2 22.3 29.8
2002 843,653 100.0 33.9 1.7 8.1 3.8 22.1 30.5
2003 796,553 100.0 35.5 1.8 9.7 4.0 24.1 24.8
2004 693,048 100.0 38.7 1.8 11.9 4.3 26.9 16.4
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 170,884 100.0 44.8 7.0 11.0 . . . . . . 37.2
1996 152,171 100.0 52.7 8.7 16.0 . . . . . . 22.6
1997 128,267 100.0 55.8 9.2 22.1 . . . . . . 12.9
1998 145,008 100.0 55.6 9.6 23.6 . . . . . . 11.2
1999 150,647 100.0 53.2 9.8 25.8 . . . . . . 11.3
2000 159,894 100.0 50.2 9.2 28.9 . . . . . . 11.7
2001 174,698 100.0 48.3 8.2 32.4 . . . . . . 11.0
2002 188,313 100.0 45.5 7.7 36.1 . . . . . . 10.7
2003 192,251 100.0 44.4 7.6 40.3 . . . . . . 7.7
2004 186,250 100.0 43.3 6.8 44.1 . . . . . . 5.7
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 644,866 100.0 34.0 . . . . . . 5.8 23.8 36.4
1995 573,381 100.0 33.2 . . . . . . 5.6 24.0 37.2
1996 541,650 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 5.9 23.3 37.1
1997 513,697 100.0 34.5 . . . . . . 6.1 22.6 36.9
1998 537,507 100.0 35.6 . . . . . . 5.5 23.9 35.1
1999 542,776 100.0 34.0 . . . . . . 5.3 25.1 35.6
2000 568,541 100.0 32.6 . . . . . . 5.6 26.4 35.4
2001 604,577 100.0 32.6 . . . . . . 5.6 27.9 33.9
2002 621,582 100.0 32.0 . . . . . . 5.1 28.1 34.8
2003 577,301 100.0 34.1 . . . . . . 5.5 31.9 28.5
2004 481,407 100.0 38.8 . . . . . . 6.2 37.6 17.4
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2005. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2005.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the numbers and percentages will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or 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 49. Percentage distribution of final medical denials, by age, year of application, and reason for denial, 1992–2004
Year Total Impairment
did not or is
not expected
to last 12 months		 Impairment
is not
severe		 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 1,043,113 100.0 6.2 20.7 . . . 13.6 23.3 36.1
1995 996,529 100.0 6.2 19.7 . . . 12.4 22.4 39.2
1996 940,350 100.0 6.4 20.6 5.8 12.1 22.9 32.2
1997 741,043 100.0 6.8 16.7 16.2 13.0 25.1 22.1
1998 703,239 100.0 6.9 15.0 18.3 14.6 25.3 19.9
1999 690,488 100.0 6.7 14.0 19.1 15.5 24.5 20.2
2000 690,296 100.0 6.4 13.3 18.7 15.8 24.2 21.5
2001 724,592 100.0 6.1 13.2 18.3 16.6 26.0 19.9
2002 793,508 100.0 5.7 13.0 18.4 16.8 26.2 19.9
2003 812,715 100.0 5.2 12.2 19.0 16.5 26.1 21.1
2004 823,668 100.0 5.0 11.2 18.5 16.2 26.2 22.9
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 311,284 100.0 1.4 22.4 . . . . . . . . . 76.2
1995 306,390 100.0 1.3 21.8 . . . . . . . . . 76.9
1996 291,354 100.0 1.4 26.9 18.7 . . . . . . 53.0
1997 195,802 100.0 1.6 19.1 61.4 . . . . . . 18.0
1998 182,511 100.0 1.3 14.5 70.6 . . . . . . 13.7
1999 182,279 100.0 1.1 13.3 72.4 . . . . . . 13.2
2000 179,388 100.0 1.1 13.2 72.1 . . . . . . 13.6
2001 181,660 100.0 1.1 14.0 73.0 . . . . . . 11.9
2002 197,948 100.0 1.0 13.5 73.7 . . . . . . 11.8
2003 205,178 100.0 0.9 12.4 75.1 . . . . . . 11.5
2004 202,113 100.0 0.9 11.1 75.5 . . . . . . 12.6
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 689,683 100.0 8.4 18.8 . . . 17.9 32.4 22.5
1996 648,085 100.0 8.6 17.8 . . . 17.5 33.3 22.8
1997 543,602 100.0 8.8 15.8 . . . 17.7 34.2 23.6
1998 516,773 100.0 8.9 14.9 . . . 19.7 34.4 22.0
1999 504,486 100.0 8.7 14.1 . . . 21.0 33.5 22.7
2000 507,540 100.0 8.4 13.2 . . . 21.2 32.8 24.3
2001 539,948 100.0 7.8 12.8 . . . 22.1 34.9 22.5
2002 592,581 100.0 7.3 12.8 . . . 22.3 35.0 22.5
2003 605,341 100.0 6.6 12.0 . . . 22.0 35.1 24.3
2004 619,791 100.0 6.3 11.1 . . . 21.5 34.9 26.2
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2005. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2005.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the numbers and percentages will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or 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.