SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2008

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 69 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 70–72 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 73 and 74). 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 69. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by age and year of application, 1992–2007
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 97,320 738,808 2,074 606,224 60,719 40.3 47.4
1998 1,520,538 0 95,990 701,331 3,831 656,567 62,819 43.2 50.5
1999 1,528,217 0 105,819 688,922 4,003 665,071 64,402 43.5 51.3
2000 1,612,826 0 156,525 690,333 3,823 693,252 68,893 43.0 52.3
2001 1,749,572 1,984 203,387 726,852 3,501 737,891 75,957 42.2 52.7
2002 1,959,039 2,893 278,291 811,834 3,567 779,828 82,626 39.9 51.4
2003 2,112,577 5,559 342,201 870,938 3,418 797,581 92,880 37.9 50.5
2004 2,246,392 13,433 431,182 900,863 3,281 800,886 96,747 35.9 49.8
2005 2,325,707 43,386 561,450 865,306 3,196 756,816 95,553 33.2 49.5
2006 2,421,141 168,214 638,636 850,664 2,667 679,019 81,941 30.1 47.1
2007 2,441,471 273,676 659,519 833,037 2,010 606,558 66,671 28.0 44.6
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 10,906 195,730 69 121,439 6,831 36.3 39.6
1998 338,592 0 10,904 182,594 74 137,655 7,365 40.7 44.3
1999 345,067 0 11,898 182,426 68 142,863 7,812 41.4 45.2
2000 355,477 0 15,775 179,678 64 151,998 7,962 42.8 47.1
2001 375,975 129 18,710 182,157 61 166,397 8,521 44.3 49.0
2002 412,972 176 22,678 200,556 79 180,398 9,085 43.7 48.6
2003 438,601 310 25,776 214,621 64 188,139 9,691 42.9 48.0
2004 451,735 964 31,539 220,096 83 189,106 9,947 42.0 47.5
2005 445,368 3,863 46,815 208,131 102 176,371 10,086 39.9 47.2
2006 455,246 16,293 50,041 208,932 99 169,929 9,952 38.7 46.3
2007 457,520 25,636 53,157 202,788 82 166,348 9,509 38.5 46.4
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 78,303 541,988 1,456 461,006 52,849 40.6 48.6
1998 1,133,015 0 76,709 516,676 1,860 483,898 53,872 42.7 50.9
1999 1,133,722 0 83,733 505,160 1,542 487,862 55,425 43.0 51.7
2000 1,208,866 0 127,968 509,620 1,423 509,891 59,964 42.2 52.7
2001 1,323,142 1,853 167,675 543,743 1,398 541,934 66,539 41.0 52.7
2002 1,483,791 2,715 230,118 610,183 1,581 566,623 72,571 38.3 51.1
2003 1,615,844 5,246 287,736 655,513 1,825 583,135 82,389 36.2 50.3
2004 1,733,410 12,464 366,069 680,131 1,882 586,766 86,098 34.1 49.7
2005 1,806,529 39,513 472,080 656,636 2,006 551,435 84,859 31.2 49.1
2006 1,893,729 151,895 543,021 641,256 1,694 484,454 71,409 27.8 46.4
2007 1,911,125 247,981 558,547 629,865 1,168 416,896 56,668 25.1 42.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2008.
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 70. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2007
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 1,815,210 643,973 35.5 917,670 343,476 37.4 897,540 300,497 33.5
2005 1,764,257 622,318 35.3 888,608 329,954 37.1 875,649 292,364 33.4
2006 1,782,470 606,598 34.0 902,246 321,982 35.7 880,224 284,616 32.3
2007 1,781,866 605,291 34.0 906,097 323,410 35.7 875,769 281,881 32.2
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 420,196 180,657 43.0 391,086 167,717 42.9 29,110 12,940 44.5
2005 398,553 169,542 42.5 370,111 157,280 42.5 28,442 12,262 43.1
2006 405,200 166,664 41.1 378,436 156,259 41.3 26,764 10,405 38.9
2007 404,348 166,985 41.3 378,733 157,550 41.6 25,615 9,435 36.8
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 1,367,341 438,473 32.1 511,679 163,312 31.9 855,662 275,161 32.2
2005 1,334,449 423,953 31.8 500,985 157,232 31.4 833,464 266,721 32.0
2006 1,350,678 415,373 30.8 511,033 154,634 30.3 839,645 260,739 31.1
2007 1,352,507 414,990 30.7 516,600 156,443 30.3 835,907 258,547 30.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2008.
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 71. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2007
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 61,264 15.7 203,132 31,818 15.7 187,080 29,446 15.7
1999 382,196 55,620 14.6 197,671 28,498 14.4 184,525 27,122 14.7
2000 382,757 53,132 13.9 192,285 26,455 13.8 190,472 26,677 14.0
2001 407,299 53,426 13.1 190,634 25,393 13.3 216,665 28,033 12.9
2002 458,317 56,028 12.2 203,464 25,777 12.7 254,853 30,251 11.9
2003 487,775 57,030 11.7 202,378 24,692 12.2 285,397 32,338 11.3
2004 487,526 54,042 11.1 193,247 22,662 11.7 294,279 31,380 10.7
2005 464,315 50,943 11.0 184,811 22,193 12.0 279,504 28,750 10.3
2006 474,823 49,748 10.5 192,779 21,493 11.1 282,044 28,255 10.0
2007 453,797 42,681 9.4 187,127 18,860 10.1 266,670 23,821 8.9
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 58,298 7,833 13.4 53,622 7,261 13.5 4,676 572 12.2
2005 54,545 7,836 14.4 50,062 7,222 14.4 4,483 614 13.7
2006 57,442 7,948 13.8 53,093 7,401 13.9 4,349 547 12.6
2007 55,169 7,433 13.5 51,321 7,026 13.7 3,848 407 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 54,194 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 51,757 15.3 154,436 23,051 14.9 182,975 28,706 15.7
1999 330,830 47,239 14.3 150,460 20,861 13.9 180,370 26,378 14.6
2000 332,767 44,858 13.5 146,383 18,874 12.9 186,384 25,984 13.9
2001 356,236 45,031 12.6 143,740 17,759 12.4 212,496 27,272 12.8
2002 400,138 46,786 11.7 150,064 17,446 11.6 250,074 29,340 11.7
2003 426,628 47,919 11.2 146,276 16,465 11.3 280,352 31,454 11.2
2004 428,092 45,662 10.7 138,753 15,054 10.8 289,339 30,608 10.6
2005 408,760 42,453 10.4 134,012 14,544 10.9 274,748 27,909 10.2
2006 416,547 41,271 9.9 139,116 13,786 9.9 277,431 27,485 9.9
2007 397,958 34,798 8.7 135,400 11,614 8.6 262,558 23,184 8.8
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2008.
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 72. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by age, year of application, and program, 1992–2007
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 238,765 145,150 60.8 112,218 59,766 53.3 126,547 85,384 67.5
1998 224,761 137,432 61.1 107,693 58,028 53.9 117,068 79,404 67.8
1999 231,530 142,355 61.5 111,215 59,903 53.9 120,315 82,452 68.5
2000 251,328 152,023 60.5 119,614 62,610 52.3 131,714 89,413 67.9
2001 272,516 164,497 60.4 121,696 63,073 51.8 150,820 101,424 67.2
2002 309,249 186,678 60.4 129,780 66,852 51.5 179,469 119,826 66.8
2003 326,110 198,190 60.8 126,435 64,876 51.3 199,675 133,314 66.8
2004 320,709 199,618 62.2 117,766 61,675 52.4 202,943 137,943 68.0
2005 275,448 179,108 65.0 99,944 54,562 54.6 175,504 124,546 71.0
2006 161,129 104,614 64.9 60,159 32,598 54.2 100,970 72,016 71.3
2007 37,426 25,257 67.5 15,174 8,181 53.9 22,252 17,076 76.7
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 7,300 37.3 17,723 6,594 37.2 1,826 706 38.7
1998 18,904 7,249 38.3 17,199 6,550 38.1 1,705 699 41.0
1999 20,903 8,082 38.7 18,986 7,293 38.4 1,917 789 41.2
2000 24,579 9,180 37.3 22,358 8,264 37.0 2,221 916 41.2
2001 26,028 9,539 36.6 23,777 8,639 36.3 2,251 900 40.0
2002 29,525 10,629 36.0 27,005 9,656 35.8 2,520 973 38.6
2003 30,553 10,920 35.7 27,863 9,872 35.4 2,690 1,048 39.0
2004 29,088 10,563 36.3 26,490 9,496 35.8 2,598 1,067 41.1
2005 23,776 9,079 38.2 21,665 8,185 37.8 2,111 894 42.3
2006 13,163 5,269 40.0 12,123 4,839 39.9 1,040 430 41.3
2007 3,041 1,439 47.3 2,838 1,343 47.3 203 96 47.3
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 218,255 137,054 62.8 93,599 52,430 56.0 124,656 84,624 67.9
1998 204,894 129,421 63.2 89,580 50,760 56.7 115,314 78,661 68.2
1999 210,020 133,802 63.7 91,668 52,179 56.9 118,352 81,623 69.0
2000 226,160 142,410 63.0 96,717 53,954 55.8 129,443 88,456 68.3
2001 245,922 154,541 62.8 97,398 54,049 55.5 148,524 100,492 67.7
2002 279,042 175,585 62.9 102,140 56,765 55.6 176,902 118,820 67.2
2003 295,011 186,898 63.4 98,092 54,684 55.7 196,919 132,214 67.1
2004 291,186 188,729 64.8 90,894 51,887 57.1 200,292 136,842 68.3
2005 251,462 169,888 67.6 78,105 46,263 59.2 173,357 123,625 71.3
2006 147,806 99,219 67.1 47,900 27,654 57.7 99,906 71,565 71.6
2007 34,330 23,776 69.3 12,298 6,812 55.4 22,032 16,964 77.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2008.
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 73. Percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by age, year of application, and reason for allowance, 1992–2007
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 666,943 100.0 37.6 1.8 4.3 4.7 18.4 33.3
1998 719,386 100.0 38.2 1.9 4.8 4.2 20.0 30.9
1999 729,473 100.0 36.6 2.0 5.3 3.9 20.8 31.3
2000 762,145 100.0 35.1 1.9 6.1 4.2 21.4 31.3
2001 813,848 100.0 34.8 1.8 7.0 4.2 22.2 30.2
2002 862,454 100.0 33.1 1.7 7.9 3.7 21.6 32.0
2003 890,461 100.0 32.2 1.7 8.7 3.6 22.0 31.8
2004 897,633 100.0 31.5 1.5 9.4 3.6 22.6 31.4
2005 852,369 100.0 31.3 1.4 9.7 3.5 23.5 30.5
2006 760,960 100.0 33.9 1.4 11.3 3.7 25.2 24.5
2007 673,229 100.0 37.3 1.6 13.2 4.2 27.7 16.0
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 170,884 100.0 44.8 7.0 11.0 . . . . . . 37.2
1996 152,174 100.0 52.7 8.7 16.0 . . . . . . 22.6
1997 128,270 100.0 55.8 9.2 22.1 . . . . . . 12.9
1998 145,020 100.0 55.6 9.6 23.6 . . . . . . 11.2
1999 150,675 100.0 53.2 9.8 25.8 . . . . . . 11.3
2000 159,960 100.0 50.1 9.2 28.9 . . . . . . 11.7
2001 174,918 100.0 48.2 8.2 32.4 . . . . . . 11.1
2002 189,483 100.0 45.2 7.6 35.9 . . . . . . 11.2
2003 197,830 100.0 43.5 7.4 39.4 . . . . . . 9.6
2004 199,053 100.0 42.1 6.6 42.4 . . . . . . 9.0
2005 186,457 100.0 40.2 6.5 44.5 . . . . . . 8.8
2006 179,881 100.0 39.1 6.1 47.7 . . . . . . 7.0
2007 175,857 100.0 38.7 6.1 50.4 . . . . . . 4.9
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 513,855 100.0 34.5 . . . . . . 6.1 22.6 36.9
1998 537,770 100.0 35.5 . . . . . . 5.5 23.9 35.1
1999 543,287 100.0 34.0 . . . . . . 5.2 25.1 35.7
2000 569,855 100.0 32.6 . . . . . . 5.5 26.3 35.6
2001 608,473 100.0 32.4 . . . . . . 5.6 27.7 34.3
2002 639,194 100.0 31.1 . . . . . . 5.0 27.4 36.6
2003 665,524 100.0 30.0 . . . . . . 4.8 28.1 37.1
2004 672,864 100.0 29.5 . . . . . . 4.8 29.2 36.5
2005 636,294 100.0 30.1 . . . . . . 4.7 30.5 34.7
2006 555,863 100.0 33.7 . . . . . . 5.1 33.7 27.5
2007 473,564 100.0 38.6 . . . . . . 6.0 38.7 16.7
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2008.
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 74. Percentage distribution of final medical denials, by age, year of application, and reason for denial, 1992–2007
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 740,882 100.0 6.8 16.7 16.2 13.0 25.1 22.1
1998 705,162 100.0 6.9 15.0 18.3 14.7 25.4 19.9
1999 692,925 100.0 6.7 14.0 19.1 15.6 24.6 20.2
2000 694,156 100.0 6.4 13.3 18.7 15.8 24.2 21.5
2001 730,353 100.0 6.1 13.2 18.2 16.6 26.1 19.8
2002 815,401 100.0 5.7 12.9 18.2 17.0 26.6 19.6
2003 874,356 100.0 5.1 12.1 18.6 17.2 27.4 19.6
2004 904,144 100.0 4.8 11.3 18.6 16.8 27.7 20.7
2005 868,502 100.0 4.5 11.2 18.1 16.3 27.8 22.1
2006 853,331 100.0 4.4 11.4 18.5 16.0 27.2 22.7
2007 835,047 100.0 4.5 10.8 18.4 16.3 27.1 23.0
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 195,799 100.0 1.6 19.1 61.4 . . . . . . 18.0
1998 182,668 100.0 1.3 14.4 70.6 . . . . . . 13.7
1999 182,494 100.0 1.1 13.3 72.4 . . . . . . 13.2
2000 179,742 100.0 1.1 13.2 72.1 . . . . . . 13.6
2001 182,218 100.0 1.1 14.0 73.0 . . . . . . 11.9
2002 200,635 100.0 1.0 13.4 73.9 . . . . . . 11.8
2003 214,685 100.0 0.9 12.3 75.9 . . . . . . 10.9
2004 220,179 100.0 0.8 11.0 76.4 . . . . . . 11.8
2005 208,233 100.0 0.9 11.0 75.4 . . . . . . 12.7
2006 209,031 100.0 0.8 11.5 75.4 . . . . . . 12.4
2007 202,870 100.0 0.9 11.4 75.8 . . . . . . 12.0
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 543,444 100.0 8.8 15.8 . . . 17.7 34.2 23.6
1998 518,536 100.0 8.9 14.9 . . . 19.7 34.4 22.0
1999 506,702 100.0 8.7 14.1 . . . 21.0 33.6 22.7
2000 511,043 100.0 8.4 13.2 . . . 21.3 32.9 24.3
2001 545,141 100.0 7.8 12.8 . . . 22.1 35.0 22.4
2002 611,764 100.0 7.2 12.7 . . . 22.5 35.5 22.1
2003 657,338 100.0 6.5 11.9 . . . 22.7 36.4 22.4
2004 682,013 100.0 6.1 11.4 . . . 22.2 36.8 23.6
2005 658,642 100.0 5.7 11.2 . . . 21.4 36.7 25.1
2006 642,950 100.0 5.5 11.3 . . . 21.1 36.0 26.0
2007 631,033 100.0 5.6 10.6 . . . 21.5 35.9 26.4
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research File, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through August 2008.
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.