SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2006

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 43 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 44–46 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 47 and 48). 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 43. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by age and year of application, 1992–2005
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 0 113,027 938,407 1,886 671,900 61,550 37.6 43.8
1997 1,505,145 0 97,320 738,863 2,074 606,169 60,719 40.3 47.4
1998 1,520,538 0 95,990 701,449 3,831 656,447 62,821 43.2 50.5
1999 1,528,217 2,297 105,819 686,835 4,003 664,858 64,405 43.6 51.4
2000 1,612,826 3,413 156,525 687,445 3,823 692,721 68,899 43.0 52.4
2001 1,749,572 5,673 203,387 724,598 3,501 736,448 75,965 42.2 52.7
2002 1,959,039 14,210 278,291 805,381 3,558 774,948 82,651 39.8 51.5
2003 2,112,577 56,360 342,201 845,048 3,401 772,626 92,941 37.6 50.5
2004 2,247,178 181,230 433,290 838,357 2,853 709,249 82,199 34.3 48.5
2005 2,298,723 252,015 564,039 817,108 2,153 598,668 64,740 29.3 44.7
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 13,532 291,265 86 144,670 7,504 31.7 34.3
1997 334,975 0 10,906 195,731 69 121,438 6,831 36.3 39.6
1998 338,592 0 10,904 182,599 74 137,650 7,365 40.7 44.3
1999 345,067 188 11,898 182,246 68 142,855 7,812 41.4 45.2
2000 355,477 290 15,775 179,412 64 151,974 7,962 42.8 47.1
2001 375,975 405 18,710 181,951 61 166,327 8,521 44.3 49.0
2002 412,972 1,098 22,678 199,916 78 180,117 9,085 43.7 48.6
2003 438,601 5,030 25,776 211,408 64 186,632 9,691 43.0 48.1
2004 451,806 16,781 31,735 210,081 76 183,698 9,435 42.2 47.9
2005 440,724 24,189 47,115 194,526 85 165,905 8,904 39.8 47.3
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 88,839 688,438 1,245 519,041 54,340 38.4 45.4
1996 1,277,604 0 87,869 646,497 1,534 488,215 53,489 38.2 45.5
1997 1,135,602 0 78,303 542,042 1,456 460,952 52,849 40.6 48.6
1998 1,133,015 0 76,709 516,789 1,860 483,783 53,874 42.7 50.9
1999 1,133,722 2,105 83,733 503,257 1,542 487,657 55,428 43.1 51.8
2000 1,208,866 3,121 127,968 507,000 1,423 509,384 59,970 42.2 52.8
2001 1,323,142 5,259 167,675 541,702 1,398 540,561 66,547 41.0 52.8
2002 1,483,791 13,099 230,118 604,378 1,574 562,026 72,596 38.2 51.2
2003 1,615,844 51,285 287,736 632,857 1,809 559,707 82,450 35.8 50.3
2004 1,734,012 164,347 367,793 627,695 1,531 500,524 72,122 31.9 47.6
2005 1,783,959 227,697 474,028 622,142 1,084 403,683 55,325 25.9 42.4
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2006. Data for the hearing level or above are current through August 2006.
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 44. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2005
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 1,770,376 635,241 35.9 917,511 344,751 37.6 852,865 290,490 34.1
2004 1,813,786 641,328 35.4 928,738 346,083 37.3 885,048 295,245 33.4
2005 1,734,403 607,630 35.0 900,302 331,048 36.8 834,101 276,582 33.2
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 357,265 157,730 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 412,825 178,453 43.2 384,481 165,876 43.1 28,344 12,577 44.4
2004 420,066 180,386 42.9 392,531 168,705 43.0 27,535 11,681 42.4
2005 393,575 167,416 42.5 369,372 158,031 42.8 24,203 9,385 38.8
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 1,155,467 408,901 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 1,328,108 430,707 32.4 515,659 164,504 31.9 812,449 266,203 32.8
2004 1,366,122 436,077 31.9 521,576 165,119 31.7 844,546 270,958 32.1
2005 1,309,684 411,265 31.4 513,828 157,787 30.7 795,856 253,478 31.8
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2006.
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 45. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2005
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 65,352 13.6 249,224 32,510 13.0 231,369 32,842 14.2
1997 409,396 62,496 15.3 208,993 31,881 15.3 200,403 30,615 15.3
1998 390,212 61,266 15.7 203,132 31,818 15.7 187,080 29,448 15.7
1999 382,196 55,625 14.6 197,671 28,499 14.4 184,525 27,126 14.7
2000 382,757 53,139 13.9 192,285 26,455 13.8 190,472 26,684 14.0
2001 407,299 53,434 13.1 190,634 25,393 13.3 216,665 28,041 12.9
2002 458,317 56,059 12.2 203,464 25,783 12.7 254,853 30,276 11.9
2003 487,775 57,108 11.7 202,378 24,699 12.2 285,397 32,409 11.4
2004 482,806 52,648 10.9 196,653 22,571 11.5 286,153 30,077 10.5
2005 377,342 35,713 9.5 161,020 16,752 10.4 216,322 18,961 8.8
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 7,513 15.5 44,462 6,950 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 59,715 8,457 14.2 54,939 7,763 14.1 4,776 694 14.5
2004 57,984 7,786 13.4 53,638 7,287 13.6 4,346 499 11.5
2005 45,803 6,301 13.8 42,625 5,920 13.9 3,178 381 12.0
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 54,194 13.4 178,404 22,457 12.6 224,905 31,737 14.1
1997 355,514 52,588 14.8 159,694 22,951 14.4 195,820 29,637 15.1
1998 337,411 51,759 15.3 154,436 23,051 14.9 182,975 28,708 15.7
1999 330,830 47,244 14.3 150,460 20,862 13.9 180,370 26,382 14.6
2000 332,767 44,865 13.5 146,383 18,874 12.9 186,384 25,991 13.9
2001 356,236 45,039 12.6 143,740 17,759 12.4 212,496 27,280 12.8
2002 400,138 46,817 11.7 150,064 17,452 11.6 250,074 29,365 11.7
2003 426,628 47,997 11.3 146,276 16,472 11.3 280,352 31,525 11.2
2004 423,706 44,332 10.5 142,158 14,953 10.5 281,548 29,379 10.4
2005 330,689 28,831 8.7 117,786 10,459 8.9 212,903 18,372 8.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2006.
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 46. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2005
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 271,977 159,167 58.5 128,712 64,430 50.1 143,265 94,737 66.1
1997 238,744 145,095 60.8 112,201 59,737 53.2 126,543 85,358 67.5
1998 224,759 137,312 61.1 107,693 57,970 53.8 117,066 79,342 67.8
1999 229,227 142,140 62.0 110,192 59,799 54.3 119,035 82,341 69.2
2000 247,904 151,491 61.1 118,077 62,359 52.8 129,827 89,132 68.7
2001 268,813 163,054 60.7 119,948 62,406 52.0 148,865 100,648 67.6
2002 298,063 181,792 61.0 124,856 64,828 51.9 173,207 116,964 67.5
2003 275,372 173,218 62.9 105,746 55,477 52.5 169,626 117,741 69.4
2004 148,293 97,472 65.7 55,178 29,637 53.7 93,115 67,835 72.9
2005 29,072 20,065 69.0 12,136 6,423 52.9 16,936 13,642 80.6
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 9,153 32.6 25,589 8,295 32.4 2,516 858 34.1
1997 19,549 7,299 37.3 17,723 6,593 37.2 1,826 706 38.7
1998 18,904 7,244 38.3 17,199 6,546 38.1 1,705 698 40.9
1999 20,715 8,074 39.0 18,816 7,285 38.7 1,899 789 41.5
2000 24,289 9,156 37.7 22,096 8,242 37.3 2,193 914 41.7
2001 25,752 9,469 36.8 23,524 8,573 36.4 2,228 896 40.2
2002 28,621 10,348 36.2 26,180 9,396 35.9 2,441 952 39.0
2003 25,853 9,413 36.4 23,626 8,513 36.0 2,227 900 40.4
2004 13,075 4,961 37.9 12,077 4,533 37.5 998 428 42.9
2005 2,272 1,092 48.1 2,113 1,014 48.0 159 78 49.1
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 243,064 149,301 61.4 102,414 55,516 54.2 140,650 93,785 66.7
1997 218,234 137,000 62.8 93,582 52,402 56.0 124,652 84,598 67.9
1998 204,892 129,306 63.1 89,580 50,706 56.6 115,312 78,600 68.2
1999 207,909 133,595 64.3 90,819 52,083 57.3 117,090 81,512 69.6
2000 223,028 141,902 63.6 95,444 53,725 56.3 127,584 88,177 69.1
2001 242,502 153,168 63.2 95,910 53,448 55.7 146,592 99,720 68.0
2002 268,771 170,982 63.6 98,051 55,003 56.1 170,720 115,979 67.9
2003 249,014 163,453 65.6 81,676 46,662 57.1 167,338 116,791 69.8
2004 134,887 92,237 68.4 42,804 24,858 58.1 92,083 67,379 73.2
2005 26,727 18,912 70.8 9,965 5,363 53.8 16,762 13,549 80.8
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2006.
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. Percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by age, year of application, and reason for allowance, 1992–2005
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 733,450 100.0 35.9 1.8 3.3 4.4 17.4 37.2
1997 666,888 100.0 37.6 1.8 4.3 4.7 18.4 33.3
1998 719,268 100.0 38.2 1.9 4.8 4.2 20.1 30.8
1999 729,263 100.0 36.6 2.0 5.3 4.0 20.8 31.2
2000 761,620 100.0 35.1 1.9 6.1 4.2 21.4 31.3
2001 812,413 100.0 34.8 1.8 7.0 4.2 22.2 30.0
2002 857,599 100.0 33.3 1.7 7.9 3.7 21.8 31.6
2003 865,567 100.0 33.1 1.7 9.0 3.7 22.6 29.9
2004 791,448 100.0 35.1 1.6 10.6 4.0 25.1 23.6
2005 663,408 100.0 37.5 1.8 12.1 4.1 26.7 17.8
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 152,174 100.0 52.7 8.7 16.0 . . . . . . 22.6
1997 128,269 100.0 55.8 9.2 22.1 . . . . . . 12.9
1998 145,015 100.0 55.6 9.6 23.6 . . . . . . 11.2
1999 150,667 100.0 53.2 9.8 25.8 . . . . . . 11.3
2000 159,936 100.0 50.2 9.2 28.9 . . . . . . 11.7
2001 174,848 100.0 48.3 8.2 32.4 . . . . . . 11.1
2002 189,202 100.0 45.3 7.7 35.9 . . . . . . 11.1
2003 196,323 100.0 43.9 7.5 39.7 . . . . . . 9.0
2004 193,133 100.0 42.8 6.8 43.4 . . . . . . 7.0
2005 174,809 100.0 41.0 6.7 46.1 . . . . . . 6.2
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 541,704 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 5.9 23.3 37.1
1997 513,801 100.0 34.5 . . . . . . 6.1 22.6 36.9
1998 537,657 100.0 35.6 . . . . . . 5.5 23.9 35.1
1999 543,085 100.0 34.0 . . . . . . 5.3 25.1 35.6
2000 569,354 100.0 32.6 . . . . . . 5.6 26.4 35.5
2001 607,108 100.0 32.5 . . . . . . 5.6 27.8 34.2
2002 634,622 100.0 31.3 . . . . . . 5.0 27.6 36.1
2003 642,157 100.0 31.1 . . . . . . 5.0 29.1 34.8
2004 572,646 100.0 33.9 . . . . . . 5.5 33.6 27.0
2005 459,008 100.0 38.5 . . . . . . 5.9 37.4 18.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2006. Data for the hearing level or above are current through August 2006.
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 48. Percentage distribution of final medical denials, by age, year of application, and reason for denial, 1992–2005
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 940,293 100.0 6.4 20.6 5.8 12.1 22.9 32.2
1997 740,937 100.0 6.8 16.7 16.2 13.0 25.1 22.1
1998 705,280 100.0 6.9 15.0 18.3 14.7 25.4 19.9
1999 690,838 100.0 6.7 14.0 19.1 15.5 24.5 20.2
2000 691,268 100.0 6.4 13.3 18.7 15.8 24.2 21.5
2001 728,099 100.0 6.1 13.2 18.3 16.6 26.1 19.8
2002 808,939 100.0 5.7 13.0 18.3 16.9 26.5 19.7
2003 848,449 100.0 5.1 12.2 18.9 16.9 26.9 20.0
2004 841,210 100.0 4.8 11.3 18.9 16.2 26.4 22.4
2005 819,261 100.0 4.7 10.8 17.7 15.8 26.6 24.3
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 291,351 100.0 1.4 26.9 18.7 . . . . . . 53.0
1997 195,800 100.0 1.6 19.1 61.4 . . . . . . 18.0
1998 182,673 100.0 1.3 14.4 70.6 . . . . . . 13.7
1999 182,314 100.0 1.1 13.3 72.4 . . . . . . 13.2
2000 179,476 100.0 1.1 13.2 72.1 . . . . . . 13.6
2001 182,012 100.0 1.1 14.0 73.0 . . . . . . 11.9
2002 199,994 100.0 1.0 13.4 73.9 . . . . . . 11.8
2003 211,472 100.0 0.9 12.3 75.7 . . . . . . 11.0
2004 210,157 100.0 0.8 11.1 75.7 . . . . . . 12.4
2005 194,611 100.0 0.9 11.0 74.4 . . . . . . 13.6
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 648,031 100.0 8.6 17.8 . . . 17.5 33.3 22.8
1997 543,498 100.0 8.8 15.8 . . . 17.7 34.2 23.6
1998 518,649 100.0 8.9 14.9 . . . 19.7 34.4 22.0
1999 504,799 100.0 8.7 14.1 . . . 21.0 33.5 22.7
2000 508,423 100.0 8.4 13.2 . . . 21.2 32.9 24.3
2001 543,100 100.0 7.8 12.8 . . . 22.1 34.9 22.4
2002 605,952 100.0 7.3 12.7 . . . 22.5 35.3 22.2
2003 634,666 100.0 6.6 12.0 . . . 22.5 36.0 22.9
2004 629,226 100.0 6.2 11.4 . . . 21.5 35.2 25.7
2005 623,226 100.0 5.9 10.7 . . . 20.8 35.0 27.6
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2006. Data for the hearing level or above are current through August 2006.
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.