Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2020

Outcomes of Applications for Disability Benefits

Notes

The tables in this section provide data on the outcomes of applications for disability benefits. The data on applications are derived from the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) Disability Research File maintained by the Office of Disability Programs. Each year this file 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 60 shows the total number of applications filed in a year, the number denied for nonmedical reasons before a medical decision is made (technical denials), the number that are pending a final decision, 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 insufficient number of recent work credits.

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 decision-making 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 61–63 show the allowance rate for Social Security only and the Social Security portion of concurrent applications (which are claims for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits). Each table shows a different level in the administrative decision-making process; that is, initial adjudicative, reconsideration, and hearing or higher level.

Beginning with 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 the reason for medical denial (Tables 64 and 65). The reasons are derived from the sequential evaluation process used by decision makers. 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
  • has an impairment resulting from drug addiction or alcoholism, 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.
Chart 11. Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2010–2019

The final award rate for disabled-worker applicants has varied over time, averaging 31 percent for claims filed from 2010 through 2019. The percentage of applicants awarded benefits at the initial claims level averaged 21 percent over the same period and ranged from a high of 23 percent to a low of 20 percent. The percentages of applicants awarded at the reconsideration and hearing levels have averaged 2 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Denied disability claims have averaged 67 percent.

Area chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 11. Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2010–2019 (percent)
Year Initial awards Reconsideration awards Awards at hearing level or above Pending final decision Medical denials Technical denials
2010 22.9 2.2 11.1 0.0 28.6 35.2
2011 21.9 2.2 10.8 0.0 29.3 35.7
2012 21.3 2.2 10.1 0.0 29.2 37.2
2013 20.9 2.1 9.9 0.2 29.4 37.6
2014 20.6 2.1 9.5 0.2 29.8 37.8
2015 20.3 2.2 8.7 0.3 29.8 38.7
2016 20.4 2.2 8.2 0.5 29.4 39.2
2017 20.6 2.2 7.5 1.5 28.6 39.6
2018 20.6 2.3 5.5 5.5 25.9 40.2
2019 20.7 1.9 0.9 12.7 22.9 41.0
 
SOURCE: Tables 60–63.
NOTE: Awards are calculated as medical allowances minus subsequent technical denials. Technical denials include both nonmedical decision technical denials and medical decisions that were subsequently denied for technical reasons.
Table 60. Outcomes at all adjudicative levels, by year of application, 1992–2019
Year Total Pending final decision Technical denials a Medical decisions Award rate d (percent) Allowance rate e (percent)
Denials Allowances
Medical Subsequent nonmedical b Awards Subsequent denials c
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 1,265,037 0 104,332 445,995 4,056 708,797 1,857 56.0 61.3
2000 1,364,323 0 136,054 456,467 3,817 766,047 1,938 56.1 62.6
2001 1,513,411 0 170,520 496,835 3,579 840,542 1,935 55.5 62.8
2002 1,715,710 0 231,067 580,430 4,067 898,047 2,099 52.3 60.7
2003 1,941,894 0 374,305 632,284 4,485 928,747 2,073 47.8 59.5
2004 2,262,119 0 615,672 677,811 5,634 961,376 1,626 42.5 58.5
2005 2,087,733 0 528,760 642,170 6,964 907,877 1,962 43.5 58.4
2006 2,164,394 0 611,199 653,256 7,270 890,752 1,917 41.2 57.5
2007 2,216,565 0 651,753 641,811 7,914 913,269 1,818 41.2 58.5
2008 2,358,629 0 717,133 660,762 9,023 969,935 1,776 41.1 59.2
2009 2,753,012 0 845,192 789,506 10,686 1,105,781 1,847 40.2 58.1
2010 2,981,615 0 978,627 861,506 19,094 1,120,313 2,075 37.6 56.0
2011 2,952,087 0 981,932 872,861 20,763 1,074,470 2,061 36.4 54.6
2012 2,955,922 0 1,024,485 867,625 23,851 1,037,682 2,279 35.1 53.8
2013 2,790,682 5,212 971,025 822,725 24,981 964,494 2,245 34.6 53.3
2014 2,687,343 5,177 936,830 800,483 27,052 915,518 2,283 34.1 52.6
2015 2,547,662 7,473 904,295 757,659 27,565 848,366 2,304 33.4 52.0
2016 2,430,071 12,659 875,724 711,985 27,441 800,275 1,987 33.1 52.0
2017 2,306,249 33,138 834,197 657,133 28,318 751,520 1,943 33.1 52.4
2018 2,218,904 117,729 810,001 574,254 31,423 683,412 2,085 32.5 53.1
2019 2,064,798 252,177 771,168 479,865 30,104 529,599 1,885 29.2 51.0
  Workers
1992 1,310,004 0 130,885 481,439 5,725 689,111 2,844 52.6 58.8
1993 1,384,501 0 140,314 540,906 5,626 695,007 2,648 50.2 56.2
1994 1,383,092 0 130,240 573,158 5,506 671,791 2,397 48.6 53.9
1995 1,301,472 0 123,711 542,097 5,048 628,380 2,236 48.3 53.6
1996 1,313,818 0 116,988 537,482 5,011 652,221 2,116 49.6 54.8
1997 1,164,680 0 106,868 449,464 4,212 602,277 1,859 51.7 57.2
1998 1,138,101 0 96,718 421,953 4,205 613,181 2,044 53.9 59.2
1999 1,167,650 0 102,305 419,486 4,008 640,065 1,786 54.8 60.3
2000 1,265,188 0 133,947 430,581 3,782 695,007 1,871 54.9 61.7
2001 1,414,524 0 168,231 470,999 3,537 769,877 1,880 54.4 62.0
2002 1,609,480 0 228,455 550,985 4,011 823,981 2,048 51.2 59.9
2003 1,831,154 0 371,334 599,558 4,428 853,832 2,002 46.6 58.7
2004 2,145,629 0 611,647 643,040 5,582 883,784 1,576 41.2 57.8
2005 1,970,277 0 524,858 607,568 6,874 829,087 1,890 42.1 57.6
2006 2,040,682 0 606,435 613,407 7,164 811,818 1,858 39.8 56.8
2007 2,083,897 0 646,511 599,001 7,799 828,834 1,752 39.8 57.8
2008 2,217,126 0 711,536 616,715 8,892 878,274 1,709 39.6 58.4
2009 2,595,028 0 839,206 737,312 10,538 1,006,200 1,772 38.8 57.4
2010 2,809,479 0 968,148 804,279 18,493 1,016,551 2,008 36.2 55.3
2011 2,780,977 0 971,069 816,114 20,269 971,529 1,996 34.9 53.8
2012 2,776,214 0 1,009,075 811,262 22,761 930,959 2,157 33.5 52.8
2013 2,620,315 5,049 958,195 769,526 24,021 861,376 2,148 32.9 52.1
2014 2,523,710 5,016 924,730 751,348 26,007 814,407 2,202 32.3 51.2
2015 2,383,369 7,241 892,578 711,291 26,514 743,539 2,206 31.3 50.3
2016 2,275,562 12,291 864,727 669,259 26,448 700,964 1,873 31.0 50.3
2017 2,153,531 31,793 823,570 616,359 27,291 652,673 1,845 30.8 50.4
2018 2,064,255 113,423 798,344 534,180 30,227 586,124 1,957 30.0 51.0
2019 1,926,487 243,755 758,868 440,290 28,767 453,093 1,714 26.9 49.2
  Widow(er)s
1999 40,053 0 1,173 9,718 17 29,108 37 72.7 75.0
2000 39,990 0 1,258 9,013 11 29,679 29 74.2 76.8
2001 40,227 0 1,344 8,738 13 30,113 19 74.9 77.5
2002 41,065 0 1,540 8,941 18 30,547 19 74.4 77.4
2003 41,243 0 1,645 9,553 24 29,977 44 72.7 75.9
2004 42,449 0 2,069 9,554 22 30,780 24 72.5 76.3
2005 41,409 0 1,892 9,253 26 30,215 23 73.0 76.6
2006 41,468 0 2,190 9,774 38 29,443 23 71.0 75.1
2007 40,781 0 2,211 8,975 28 29,540 27 72.4 76.7
2008 42,140 0 2,329 8,622 31 31,137 21 73.9 78.3
2009 44,059 0 2,551 8,943 43 32,502 20 73.8 78.4
2010 47,583 0 3,543 9,707 82 34,228 23 71.9 77.8
2011 47,011 0 3,498 9,820 74 33,585 34 71.4 77.3
2012 51,351 0 5,850 9,892 242 35,314 53 68.8 77.7
2013 49,596 55 5,109 9,941 261 34,187 43 69.0 77.0
2014 48,048 50 4,620 9,641 266 33,434 37 69.7 77.2
2015 45,839 64 4,466 8,842 290 32,140 37 70.2 77.9
2016 43,048 120 4,109 8,180 250 30,347 42 70.7 78.3
2017 40,998 332 3,842 7,613 287 28,892 32 71.0 78.5
2018 38,992 1,317 3,927 7,233 345 26,127 43 69.3 77.5
2019 35,683 2,811 4,312 7,703 459 20,342 56 61.9 71.4
  Adult children
1999 57,334 0 854 16,791 31 39,624 34 69.1 70.3
2000 59,145 0 849 16,873 24 41,361 38 69.9 71.1
2001 58,660 0 945 17,098 29 40,552 36 69.1 70.4
2002 65,165 0 1,072 20,504 38 43,519 32 66.8 68.0
2003 69,497 0 1,326 23,173 33 44,938 27 64.7 66.0
2004 74,041 0 1,956 25,217 30 46,812 26 63.2 65.0
2005 76,047 0 2,010 25,349 64 48,575 49 63.9 65.7
2006 82,244 0 2,574 30,075 68 49,491 36 60.2 62.2
2007 91,887 0 3,031 33,835 87 54,895 39 59.7 61.8
2008 99,363 0 3,268 35,425 100 60,524 46 60.9 63.0
2009 113,925 0 3,435 43,251 105 67,079 55 58.9 60.8
2010 124,553 0 6,936 47,520 519 69,534 44 55.8 59.2
2011 124,099 0 7,365 46,927 420 69,356 31 55.9 59.4
2012 128,357 0 9,560 46,471 848 71,409 69 55.6 60.2
2013 120,771 108 7,721 43,258 699 68,931 54 57.1 61.1
2014 115,585 111 7,480 39,494 779 67,677 44 58.6 62.7
2015 118,454 168 7,251 37,526 761 72,687 61 61.5 65.5
2016 111,461 248 6,888 34,546 743 68,964 72 62.0 66.2
2017 111,720 1,013 6,785 33,161 740 69,955 66 63.2 67.4
2018 115,657 2,989 7,730 32,841 851 71,161 85 63.2 67.9
2019 102,628 5,611 7,988 31,872 878 56,164 115 57.9 63.2
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2020. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2020.
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.
Data include decisions for Social Security–only applications and applications for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); they do not include SSI-only applications.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
a. Applications were denied for nonmedical reasons; therefore no decision was made on severity of impairment.
b. Applications were denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that the applicant did not meet the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
c. Applications were denied for nonmedical reasons after a decision was made that the applicant met the medical severity criteria for disability benefits.
d. Rate determined by dividing awards by all applications minus pending claims for that year.
e. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 61. Medical decisions at the initial adjudicative level, by year of application and program, 1992–2019
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for Social Security 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,b (percent)
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 1,160,792 458,854 39.5 649,980 313,152 48.2 510,812 145,702 28.5
2000 1,228,301 500,657 40.8 688,282 339,764 49.4 540,019 160,893 29.8
2001 1,342,915 558,741 41.6 742,869 379,266 51.1 600,046 179,475 29.9
2002 1,484,685 575,089 38.7 794,839 385,453 48.5 689,846 189,636 27.5
2003 1,567,607 583,758 37.2 804,688 383,225 47.6 762,919 200,533 26.3
2004 1,646,469 604,176 36.7 814,157 389,190 47.8 832,312 214,986 25.8
2005 1,559,003 575,310 36.9 763,377 370,449 48.5 795,626 204,861 25.7
2006 1,553,228 562,208 36.2 753,222 363,226 48.2 800,006 198,982 24.9
2007 1,564,868 583,058 37.3 757,294 377,352 49.8 807,574 205,706 25.5
2008 1,641,539 635,422 38.7 783,521 408,893 52.2 858,018 226,529 26.4
2009 1,907,857 734,410 38.5 922,365 480,888 52.1 985,492 253,522 25.7
2010 2,003,031 739,092 36.9 991,011 496,238 50.1 1,012,020 242,854 24.0
2011 1,970,208 703,297 35.7 988,024 478,737 48.5 982,184 224,560 22.9
2012 1,931,526 689,186 35.7 989,694 474,863 48.0 941,832 214,323 22.8
2013 1,819,676 643,340 35.4 966,513 450,186 46.6 853,163 193,154 22.6
2014 1,750,542 615,786 35.2 981,530 441,928 45.0 769,012 173,858 22.6
2015 1,643,408 582,948 35.5 941,317 424,034 45.0 702,091 158,914 22.6
2016 1,554,336 557,444 35.9 904,258 407,649 45.1 650,078 149,795 23.0
2017 1,471,880 537,977 36.6 854,999 393,265 46.0 616,881 144,712 23.5
2018 1,407,801 518,364 36.8 825,083 377,744 45.8 582,718 140,620 24.1
2019 1,284,760 473,890 36.9 748,737 340,188 45.4 536,023 133,702 24.9
  Workers
1992 1,179,119 436,715 37.0 558,741 248,385 44.5 620,378 188,330 30.4
1993 1,244,187 421,560 33.9 571,464 240,839 42.1 672,723 180,721 26.9
1994 1,252,852 390,785 31.2 591,408 233,059 39.4 661,444 157,726 23.8
1995 1,177,761 367,293 31.2 569,963 223,457 39.2 607,798 143,836 23.7
1996 1,196,830 384,167 32.1 593,992 237,474 40.0 602,838 146,693 24.3
1997 1,057,812 357,880 33.8 551,909 228,793 41.5 505,903 129,087 25.5
1998 1,041,383 374,376 35.9 550,794 238,989 43.4 490,589 135,387 27.6
1999 1,065,430 396,253 37.2 578,884 259,417 44.8 486,546 136,836 28.1
2000 1,131,273 435,416 38.5 615,507 283,906 46.1 515,766 151,510 29.4
2001 1,246,317 493,638 39.6 670,621 323,649 48.3 575,696 169,989 29.5
2002 1,381,065 507,031 36.7 718,611 327,294 45.5 662,454 179,737 27.1
2003 1,459,838 514,871 35.3 728,169 324,769 44.6 731,669 190,102 26.0
2004 1,534,004 532,860 34.7 738,167 329,980 44.7 795,837 202,880 25.5
2005 1,445,449 502,762 34.8 686,143 309,900 45.2 759,306 192,862 25.4
2006 1,434,280 489,529 34.1 675,523 303,051 44.9 758,757 186,478 24.6
2007 1,437,440 505,946 35.2 676,179 314,355 46.5 761,261 191,591 25.2
2008 1,505,630 552,705 36.7 697,893 340,958 48.9 807,737 211,747 26.2
2009 1,755,858 644,692 36.7 830,777 407,867 49.1 925,081 236,825 25.6
2010 1,841,372 645,070 35.0 894,519 419,068 46.8 946,853 226,002 23.9
2011 1,809,958 610,287 33.7 890,725 401,273 45.1 919,233 209,014 22.7
2012 1,767,217 592,485 33.5 887,336 393,392 44.3 879,881 199,093 22.6
2013 1,662,132 549,489 33.1 867,222 370,710 42.7 794,910 178,779 22.5
2014 1,599,002 523,164 32.7 882,944 362,875 41.1 716,058 160,289 22.4
2015 1,490,828 485,959 32.6 838,740 340,272 40.6 652,088 145,687 22.3
2016 1,410,828 465,424 33.0 806,618 328,269 40.7 604,210 137,155 22.7
2017 1,329,805 445,616 33.5 756,463 312,956 41.4 573,342 132,660 23.1
2018 1,264,913 426,535 33.7 724,006 298,100 41.2 540,907 128,435 23.7
2019 1,159,190 400,055 34.5 659,449 277,326 42.1 499,741 122,729 24.6
  Widow(er)s
1999 38,880 24,898 64.0 29,600 21,272 71.9 9,280 3,626 39.1
2000 38,732 25,748 66.5 29,874 21,967 73.5 8,858 3,781 42.7
2001 38,883 26,206 67.4 30,273 22,436 74.1 8,610 3,770 43.8
2002 39,526 26,489 67.0 30,891 22,751 73.6 8,635 3,738 43.3
2003 39,598 25,960 65.6 30,216 22,213 73.5 9,382 3,747 39.9
2004 40,380 26,666 66.0 29,578 22,252 75.2 10,802 4,414 40.9
2005 39,517 26,265 66.5 29,201 22,023 75.4 10,316 4,242 41.1
2006 39,278 25,584 65.1 28,454 21,399 75.2 10,824 4,185 38.7
2007 38,570 25,546 66.2 27,586 21,181 76.8 10,984 4,365 39.7
2008 39,811 26,777 67.3 28,194 22,185 78.7 11,617 4,592 39.5
2009 41,508 27,815 67.0 28,929 22,797 78.8 12,579 5,018 39.9
2010 44,040 29,501 67.0 30,599 24,203 79.1 13,441 5,298 39.4
2011 43,513 28,700 66.0 30,385 23,803 78.3 13,128 4,897 37.3
2012 45,505 30,476 67.0 32,406 25,662 79.2 13,099 4,814 36.8
2013 44,490 29,537 66.4 31,760 25,013 78.8 12,730 4,524 35.5
2014 43,432 28,996 66.8 31,407 24,793 78.9 12,025 4,203 35.0
2015 41,375 28,181 68.1 30,282 24,236 80.0 11,093 3,945 35.6
2016 38,938 26,714 68.6 28,738 23,038 80.2 10,200 3,676 36.0
2017 37,156 25,745 69.3 27,674 22,369 80.8 9,482 3,376 35.6
2018 35,046 23,515 67.1 26,084 20,276 77.7 8,962 3,239 36.1
2019 31,264 19,130 61.2 23,473 16,175 68.9 7,791 2,955 37.9
  Adult children
1999 56,482 37,703 66.8 41,496 32,463 78.2 14,986 5,240 35.0
2000 58,296 39,493 67.7 42,901 33,891 79.0 15,395 5,602 36.4
2001 57,715 38,897 67.4 41,975 33,181 79.0 15,740 5,716 36.3
2002 64,094 41,569 64.9 45,337 35,408 78.1 18,757 6,161 32.8
2003 68,171 42,927 63.0 46,303 36,243 78.3 21,868 6,684 30.6
2004 72,085 44,650 61.9 46,412 36,958 79.6 25,673 7,692 30.0
2005 74,037 46,283 62.5 48,033 38,526 80.2 26,004 7,757 29.8
2006 79,670 47,095 59.1 49,245 38,776 78.7 30,425 8,319 27.3
2007 88,858 51,566 58.0 53,529 41,816 78.1 35,329 9,750 27.6
2008 96,098 55,940 58.2 57,434 45,750 79.7 38,664 10,190 26.4
2009 110,491 61,903 56.0 62,659 50,224 80.2 47,832 11,679 24.4
2010 117,619 64,521 54.9 65,893 52,967 80.4 51,726 11,554 22.3
2011 116,737 64,310 55.1 66,914 53,661 80.2 49,823 10,649 21.4
2012 118,804 66,225 55.7 69,952 55,809 79.8 48,852 10,416 21.3
2013 113,054 64,314 56.9 67,531 54,463 80.6 45,523 9,851 21.6
2014 108,108 63,626 58.9 67,179 54,260 80.8 40,929 9,366 22.9
2015 111,205 68,808 61.9 72,295 59,526 82.3 38,910 9,282 23.9
2016 104,570 65,306 62.5 68,902 56,342 81.8 35,668 8,964 25.1
2017 104,919 66,616 63.5 70,862 57,940 81.8 34,057 8,676 25.5
2018 107,842 68,314 63.3 74,993 59,368 79.2 32,849 8,946 27.2
2019 94,306 54,705 58.0 65,815 46,687 70.9 28,491 8,018 28.1
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2020.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the allowance rate will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or be subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
SSI = Supplemental Security Income.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Rate for the Social Security portion only.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 62. Medical decisions at the reconsideration level, by year of application and program, 1992–2019
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for Social Security 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,b (percent)
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 397,127 58,602 14.8 209,682 33,223 15.8 187,445 25,379 13.5
2000 407,758 55,631 13.6 214,965 31,473 14.6 192,793 24,158 12.5
2001 434,185 55,494 12.8 221,720 30,807 13.9 212,465 24,687 11.6
2002 502,441 57,460 11.4 249,822 31,212 12.5 252,619 26,248 10.4
2003 542,986 57,868 10.7 258,354 30,344 11.7 284,632 27,524 9.7
2004 558,632 57,363 10.3 255,283 29,169 11.4 303,349 28,194 9.3
2005 514,277 51,732 10.1 231,252 26,556 11.5 283,025 25,176 8.9
2006 514,442 51,156 9.9 227,921 26,078 11.4 286,521 25,078 8.8
2007 519,254 57,038 11.0 224,454 29,822 13.3 294,800 27,216 9.2
2008 546,426 59,255 10.8 222,900 29,954 13.4 323,526 29,301 9.1
2009 644,224 64,080 9.9 264,493 33,212 12.6 379,731 30,868 8.1
2010 706,098 63,198 9.0 299,847 34,300 11.4 406,251 28,898 7.1
2011 724,442 65,168 9.0 314,351 36,362 11.6 410,091 28,806 7.0
2012 714,119 62,496 8.8 316,734 34,922 11.0 397,385 27,574 6.9
2013 682,310 56,620 8.3 316,201 32,183 10.2 366,109 24,437 6.7
2014 644,168 56,350 8.7 316,508 33,524 10.6 327,660 22,826 7.0
2015 572,104 54,597 9.5 291,079 33,009 11.3 281,025 21,588 7.7
2016 530,699 52,370 9.9 275,075 32,193 11.7 255,624 20,177 7.9
2017 485,784 49,452 10.2 250,528 30,457 12.2 235,256 18,995 8.1
2018 454,819 50,175 11.0 236,521 31,404 13.3 218,298 18,771 8.6
2019 310,293 39,612 12.8 165,484 25,954 15.7 144,809 13,658 9.4
  Workers
1992 419,798 53,881 12.8 190,594 25,352 13.3 229,204 28,529 12.4
1993 469,151 58,275 12.4 206,606 27,306 13.2 262,545 30,969 11.8
1994 489,731 62,757 12.8 226,013 31,468 13.9 263,718 31,289 11.9
1995 458,036 60,584 13.2 218,950 31,563 14.4 239,086 29,021 12.1
1996 464,582 65,466 14.1 226,333 33,596 14.8 238,249 31,870 13.4
1997 403,225 59,978 14.9 206,148 33,373 16.2 197,077 26,605 13.5
1998 384,997 61,742 16.0 199,292 34,043 17.1 185,705 27,699 14.9
1999 384,286 55,272 14.4 202,999 31,712 15.6 181,287 23,560 13.0
2000 396,216 52,794 13.3 208,638 30,189 14.5 187,578 22,605 12.1
2001 422,937 52,905 12.5 215,591 29,647 13.8 207,346 23,258 11.2
2002 489,974 54,974 11.2 243,259 30,157 12.4 246,715 24,817 10.1
2003 529,775 55,342 10.4 252,226 29,348 11.6 277,549 25,994 9.4
2004 545,180 54,527 10.0 249,568 28,202 11.3 295,612 26,325 8.9
2005 501,374 49,029 9.8 225,707 25,640 11.4 275,667 23,389 8.5
2006 500,913 48,406 9.7 222,465 25,256 11.4 278,448 23,150 8.3
2007 503,473 54,434 10.8 218,683 28,950 13.2 284,790 25,484 8.9
2008 527,774 56,838 10.8 216,971 29,111 13.4 310,803 27,727 8.9
2009 621,676 61,281 9.9 258,019 32,309 12.5 363,657 28,972 8.0
2010 681,806 60,435 8.9 293,218 33,392 11.4 388,588 27,043 7.0
2011 699,642 62,353 8.9 307,208 35,403 11.5 392,434 26,950 6.9
2012 688,202 59,774 8.7 309,052 33,986 11.0 379,150 25,788 6.8
2013 657,756 54,188 8.2 308,994 31,354 10.1 348,762 22,834 6.5
2014 621,952 54,013 8.7 309,623 32,726 10.6 312,329 21,287 6.8
2015 551,872 52,223 9.5 284,627 32,177 11.3 267,245 20,046 7.5
2016 512,127 50,174 9.8 268,910 31,398 11.7 243,217 18,776 7.7
2017 468,055 47,272 10.1 244,566 29,606 12.1 223,489 17,666 7.9
2018 437,489 47,781 10.9 229,951 30,282 13.2 207,538 17,499 8.4
2019 297,613 37,398 12.6 159,614 24,514 15.4 137,999 12,884 9.3
  Widow(er)s
1999 7,125 1,962 27.5 4,114 895 21.8 3,011 1,067 35.4
2000 6,379 1,572 24.6 3,872 734 19.0 2,507 838 33.4
2001 6,212 1,582 25.5 3,865 728 18.8 2,347 854 36.4
2002 6,390 1,392 21.8 3,996 649 16.2 2,394 743 31.0
2003 6,665 1,378 20.7 3,832 637 16.6 2,833 741 26.2
2004 6,475 1,549 23.9 3,457 597 17.3 3,018 952 31.5
2005 6,105 1,381 22.6 3,329 561 16.9 2,776 820 29.5
2006 5,985 1,308 21.9 3,120 461 14.8 2,865 847 29.6
2007 5,948 1,144 19.2 2,887 462 16.0 3,061 682 22.3
2008 6,347 921 14.5 2,858 391 13.7 3,489 530 15.2
2009 6,988 1,077 15.4 3,044 446 14.7 3,944 631 16.0
2010 7,359 1,055 14.3 3,073 461 15.0 4,286 594 13.9
2011 7,843 1,133 14.4 3,366 505 15.0 4,477 628 14.0
2012 8,137 1,116 13.7 3,544 480 13.5 4,593 636 13.8
2013 8,101 1,029 12.7 3,485 457 13.1 4,616 572 12.4
2014 7,829 1,012 12.9 3,419 457 13.4 4,410 555 12.6
2015 6,920 983 14.2 3,031 426 14.1 3,889 557 14.3
2016 6,356 848 13.3 2,815 400 14.2 3,541 448 12.7
2017 5,760 813 14.1 2,548 397 15.6 3,212 416 13.0
2018 5,756 910 15.8 2,683 467 17.4 3,073 443 14.4
2019 4,130 892 21.6 2,236 582 26.0 1,894 310 16.4
  Adult children
1999 5,716 1,368 23.9 2,569 616 24.0 3,147 752 23.9
2000 5,163 1,265 24.5 2,455 550 22.4 2,708 715 26.4
2001 5,036 1,007 20.0 2,264 432 19.1 2,772 575 20.7
2002 6,077 1,094 18.0 2,567 406 15.8 3,510 688 19.6
2003 6,546 1,148 17.5 2,296 359 15.6 4,250 789 18.6
2004 6,977 1,287 18.4 2,258 370 16.4 4,719 917 19.4
2005 6,798 1,322 19.4 2,216 355 16.0 4,582 967 21.1
2006 7,544 1,442 19.1 2,336 361 15.5 5,208 1,081 20.8
2007 9,833 1,460 14.8 2,884 410 14.2 6,949 1,050 15.1
2008 12,305 1,496 12.2 3,071 452 14.7 9,234 1,044 11.3
2009 15,560 1,722 11.1 3,430 457 13.3 12,130 1,265 10.4
2010 16,933 1,708 10.1 3,556 447 12.6 13,377 1,261 9.4
2011 16,957 1,682 9.9 3,777 454 12.0 13,180 1,228 9.3
2012 17,780 1,606 9.0 4,138 456 11.0 13,642 1,150 8.4
2013 16,453 1,403 8.5 3,722 372 10.0 12,731 1,031 8.1
2014 14,387 1,325 9.2 3,466 341 9.8 10,921 984 9.0
2015 13,312 1,391 10.4 3,421 406 11.9 9,891 985 10.0
2016 12,216 1,348 11.0 3,350 395 11.8 8,866 953 10.7
2017 11,969 1,367 11.4 3,414 454 13.3 8,555 913 10.7
2018 11,574 1,484 12.8 3,887 655 16.9 7,687 829 10.8
2019 8,550 1,322 15.5 3,634 858 23.6 4,916 464 9.4
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through June 2020.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the allowance rate will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or be 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.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
SSI = Supplemental Security Income.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Rate for the Social Security portion only.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 63. Medical decisions at the hearing level or above, by year of application and program, 1992–2019
Year All decisions Decisions on applications for Social Security 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,b (percent)
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 265,058 193,198 72.9 144,847 114,207 78.8 120,211 78,991 65.7
2000 290,068 211,697 73.0 157,001 124,015 79.0 133,067 87,682 65.9
2001 313,839 228,242 72.7 164,710 130,576 79.3 149,129 97,666 65.5
2002 369,875 267,597 72.3 189,671 150,834 79.5 180,204 116,763 64.8
2003 401,747 289,194 72.0 197,765 157,566 79.7 203,982 131,628 64.5
2004 415,339 301,463 72.6 196,715 159,335 81.0 218,624 142,128 65.0
2005 384,341 282,797 73.6 178,312 145,587 81.6 206,029 137,210 66.6
2006 387,021 279,305 72.2 176,337 142,420 80.8 210,684 136,885 65.0
2007 387,412 274,991 71.0 169,876 136,134 80.1 217,536 138,857 63.8
2008 405,203 277,034 68.4 167,464 131,704 78.6 237,739 145,330 61.1
2009 482,363 309,138 64.1 200,296 150,200 75.0 282,067 158,938 56.3
2010 537,453 320,098 59.6 230,396 162,719 70.6 307,057 157,379 51.3
2011 554,163 308,066 55.6 241,131 160,221 66.4 313,032 147,845 47.2
2012 554,366 288,279 52.0 246,161 154,180 62.6 308,205 134,099 43.5
2013 532,880 266,779 50.1 247,666 147,811 59.7 285,214 118,968 41.7
2014 496,261 245,665 49.5 244,210 141,152 57.8 252,051 104,513 41.5
2015 428,234 213,125 49.8 218,701 126,595 57.9 209,533 86,530 41.3
2016 386,135 192,448 49.8 200,575 116,325 58.0 185,560 76,123 41.0
2017 324,897 166,034 51.1 169,019 100,973 59.7 155,878 65,061 41.7
2018 216,153 116,958 54.1 116,374 72,404 62.2 99,779 44,554 44.7
2019 32,980 17,982 54.5 19,500 12,035 61.7 13,480 5,947 44.1
  Workers
1992 275,863 201,359 73.0 131,624 105,371 80.1 144,239 95,988 66.5
1993 310,655 217,816 70.1 143,997 112,593 78.2 166,658 105,223 63.1
1994 323,607 220,645 68.2 156,458 119,338 76.3 167,149 101,307 60.6
1995 301,917 202,739 67.2 150,882 113,781 75.4 151,035 88,958 58.9
1996 306,245 204,704 66.8 157,790 116,292 73.7 148,455 88,412 59.6
1997 267,288 186,278 69.7 141,021 107,539 76.3 126,267 78,739 62.4
1998 251,486 179,107 71.2 134,883 104,763 77.7 116,603 74,344 63.8
1999 260,850 190,326 73.0 141,671 111,954 79.0 119,179 78,372 65.8
2000 285,620 208,668 73.1 153,649 121,651 79.2 131,971 87,017 65.9
2001 309,372 225,214 72.8 161,335 128,214 79.5 148,037 97,000 65.5
2002 364,659 264,024 72.4 185,830 148,078 79.7 178,829 115,946 64.8
2003 396,352 285,621 72.1 194,232 155,060 79.8 202,120 130,561 64.6
2004 410,160 297,973 72.6 193,481 156,966 81.1 216,679 141,007 65.1
2005 379,242 279,186 73.6 175,088 143,130 81.7 204,154 136,056 66.6
2006 381,766 275,741 72.2 173,088 140,092 80.9 208,678 135,649 65.0
2007 379,554 270,206 71.2 166,457 133,740 80.3 213,097 136,466 64.0
2008 393,931 270,440 68.7 163,640 128,949 78.8 230,291 141,491 61.4
2009 468,958 301,999 64.4 196,271 147,402 75.1 272,687 154,597 56.7
2010 523,027 313,054 59.9 226,172 159,933 70.7 296,855 153,121 51.6
2011 539,141 300,885 55.8 236,505 157,247 66.5 302,636 143,638 47.5
2012 537,752 280,857 52.2 241,092 151,101 62.7 296,660 129,756 43.7
2013 516,899 259,847 50.3 242,778 144,938 59.7 274,121 114,909 41.9
2014 482,308 239,432 49.6 239,641 138,474 57.8 242,667 100,958 41.6
2015 415,922 207,563 49.9 214,580 124,167 57.9 201,342 83,396 41.4
2016 375,033 187,239 49.9 196,759 114,055 58.0 178,274 73,184 41.1
2017 315,503 161,630 51.2 165,683 98,948 59.7 149,820 62,682 41.8
2018 209,951 113,765 54.2 113,956 70,856 62.2 95,995 42,909 44.7
2019 31,934 17,354 54.3 18,950 11,613 61.3 12,984 5,741 44.2
  Widow(er)s
1999 3,027 2,285 75.5 2,325 1,794 77.2 702 491 69.9
2000 3,140 2,388 76.1 2,414 1,870 77.5 726 518 71.3
2001 3,046 2,344 77.0 2,391 1,862 77.9 655 482 73.6
2002 3,438 2,685 78.1 2,654 2,109 79.5 784 576 73.5
2003 3,525 2,683 76.1 2,438 1,914 78.5 1,087 769 70.7
2004 3,241 2,589 79.9 2,199 1,804 82.0 1,042 785 75.3
2005 3,187 2,592 81.3 2,166 1,814 83.7 1,021 778 76.2
2006 3,172 2,574 81.1 2,087 1,726 82.7 1,085 848 78.2
2007 3,642 2,877 79.0 1,960 1,601 81.7 1,682 1,276 75.9
2008 4,404 3,460 78.6 2,056 1,709 83.1 2,348 1,751 74.6
2009 4,775 3,630 76.0 2,126 1,742 81.9 2,649 1,888 71.3
2010 5,178 3,695 71.4 2,193 1,703 77.7 2,985 1,992 66.7
2011 5,421 3,786 69.8 2,372 1,774 74.8 3,049 2,012 66.0
2012 5,813 3,775 64.9 2,552 1,817 71.2 3,261 1,958 60.0
2013 5,902 3,664 62.1 2,540 1,746 68.7 3,362 1,918 57.0
2014 5,645 3,463 61.3 2,459 1,648 67.0 3,186 1,815 57.0
2015 4,848 3,013 62.1 2,131 1,464 68.7 2,717 1,549 57.0
2016 4,417 2,827 64.0 1,937 1,341 69.2 2,480 1,486 59.9
2017 3,756 2,366 63.0 1,642 1,142 69.5 2,114 1,224 57.9
2018 2,609 1,745 66.9 1,219 918 75.3 1,390 827 59.5
2019 506 376 74.3 314 261 83.1 192 115 59.9
  Adult children
1999 1,181 587 49.7 851 459 53.9 330 128 38.8
2000 1,308 641 49.0 938 494 52.7 370 147 39.7
2001 1,421 684 48.1 984 500 50.8 437 184 42.1
2002 1,778 888 49.9 1,187 647 54.5 591 241 40.8
2003 1,870 890 47.6 1,095 592 54.1 775 298 38.5
2004 1,938 901 46.5 1,035 565 54.6 903 336 37.2
2005 1,912 1,019 53.3 1,058 643 60.8 854 376 44.0
2006 2,083 990 47.5 1,162 602 51.8 921 388 42.1
2007 4,216 1,908 45.3 1,459 793 54.4 2,757 1,115 40.4
2008 6,868 3,134 45.6 1,768 1,046 59.2 5,100 2,088 40.9
2009 8,630 3,509 40.7 1,899 1,056 55.6 6,731 2,453 36.4
2010 9,248 3,349 36.2 2,031 1,083 53.3 7,217 2,266 31.4
2011 9,601 3,395 35.4 2,254 1,200 53.2 7,347 2,195 29.9
2012 10,801 3,647 33.8 2,517 1,262 50.1 8,284 2,385 28.8
2013 10,079 3,268 32.4 2,348 1,127 48.0 7,731 2,141 27.7
2014 8,308 2,770 33.3 2,110 1,030 48.8 6,198 1,740 28.1
2015 7,464 2,549 34.2 1,990 964 48.4 5,474 1,585 29.0
2016 6,685 2,382 35.6 1,879 929 49.4 4,806 1,453 30.2
2017 5,638 2,038 36.1 1,694 883 52.1 3,944 1,155 29.3
2018 3,593 1,448 40.3 1,199 630 52.5 2,394 818 34.2
2019 540 252 46.7 236 161 68.2 304 91 29.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are current through July 2020.
Because a number of applications remain pending for more recent years, the allowance rate will change over time.
Applications with a medical decision may be pending a final nonmedical decision or be 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.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
SSI = Supplemental Security Income.
a. Rate determined by dividing medical allowances by all medical decisions for that year.
b. Rate for the Social Security portion only.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 64. Number and percentage distribution of final medical allowances, by year of application and reason for allowance, 1992–2019
Year Total Meets level of severity of listings Equals level of severity of listings Medical and vocational factors considered Other a
Number Percent
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 708,797 100.0 33.0 5.9 26.9 34.2
2000 766,047 100.0 31.1 6.2 29.2 33.5
2001 840,542 100.0 30.0 6.1 30.1 33.9
2002 898,047 100.0 28.5 5.3 30.1 36.1
2003 928,747 100.0 27.1 5.1 31.1 36.7
2004 961,376 100.0 26.4 4.9 31.5 37.2
2005 907,877 100.0 26.5 4.7 32.0 36.8
2006 890,752 100.0 26.4 4.5 31.9 37.3
2007 913,269 100.0 26.1 4.6 32.7 36.6
2008 969,935 100.0 25.5 5.2 34.1 35.2
2009 1,105,781 100.0 24.3 5.2 35.7 34.8
2010 1,120,313 100.0 23.1 5.1 36.2 35.6
2011 1,074,470 100.0 22.4 5.0 37.5 35.0
2012 1,037,682 100.0 22.1 5.0 38.1 34.8
2013 964,494 100.0 22.4 4.7 37.2 35.7
2014 915,518 100.0 23.1 4.6 36.7 35.5
2015 848,366 100.0 24.5 4.5 36.2 34.8
2016 800,275 100.0 26.2 4.4 35.6 33.7
2017 751,520 100.0 28.0 4.4 35.0 32.5
2018 683,412 100.0 31.7 4.8 37.1 26.5
2019 529,599 100.0 42.6 5.6 45.0 6.8
  Workers
1992 689,111 100.0 34.3 11.1 24.3 30.3
1993 695,007 100.0 34.3 8.7 23.6 33.4
1994 671,791 100.0 34.5 6.9 25.6 32.9
1995 628,380 100.0 34.5 6.7 26.8 31.9
1996 652,221 100.0 34.2 7.0 27.4 31.5
1997 602,277 100.0 35.0 7.5 26.4 31.1
1998 613,181 100.0 35.5 6.6 26.9 31.0
1999 640,065 100.0 33.6 6.3 28.3 31.9
2000 695,007 100.0 31.7 6.5 30.6 31.2
2001 769,877 100.0 30.5 6.4 31.3 31.8
2002 823,981 100.0 29.0 5.6 31.4 34.0
2003 853,832 100.0 27.5 5.3 32.5 34.8
2004 883,784 100.0 26.7 5.2 32.9 35.2
2005 829,087 100.0 27.0 4.9 33.6 34.5
2006 811,818 100.0 26.9 4.7 33.5 34.9
2007 828,834 100.0 26.5 4.9 34.6 34.0
2008 878,274 100.0 26.0 5.5 36.2 32.3
2009 1,006,200 100.0 24.8 5.5 37.8 31.9
2010 1,016,551 100.0 23.6 5.4 38.5 32.5
2011 971,529 100.0 22.9 5.3 40.1 31.6
2012 930,959 100.0 22.7 5.3 41.0 30.9
2013 861,376 100.0 23.2 5.1 40.1 31.6
2014 814,407 100.0 24.0 4.9 39.9 31.2
2015 743,539 100.0 25.7 4.9 39.8 29.6
2016 700,964 100.0 27.5 4.8 39.2 28.4
2017 652,673 100.0 29.5 4.9 38.9 26.8
2018 586,124 100.0 32.5 5.2 41.3 21.0
2019 453,093 100.0 41.0 5.8 48.7 4.5
  Widow(er)s
1999 29,108 100.0 14.9 2.5 24.6 58.0
2000 29,679 100.0 12.8 2.5 26.3 58.4
2001 30,113 100.0 12.3 2.6 27.0 58.1
2002 30,547 100.0 11.4 2.1 26.5 60.0
2003 29,977 100.0 10.8 2.2 26.1 60.9
2004 30,780 100.0 10.1 1.9 26.0 62.0
2005 30,215 100.0 9.7 1.7 25.5 63.1
2006 29,443 100.0 9.6 1.5 24.2 64.7
2007 29,540 100.0 9.1 1.6 24.3 64.9
2008 31,137 100.0 8.7 1.7 24.8 64.7
2009 32,502 100.0 8.1 1.9 26.0 63.9
2010 34,228 100.0 7.7 1.9 25.3 65.1
2011 33,585 100.0 7.8 1.7 25.3 65.3
2012 35,314 100.0 6.8 1.6 24.2 67.4
2013 34,187 100.0 6.2 1.6 23.0 69.2
2014 33,434 100.0 6.3 1.5 21.7 70.6
2015 32,140 100.0 6.6 1.3 21.2 70.9
2016 30,347 100.0 6.5 1.2 20.4 71.9
2017 28,892 100.0 7.0 1.2 20.3 71.5
2018 26,127 100.0 8.6 1.5 24.5 65.4
2019 20,342 100.0 18.1 3.1 53.8 25.0
  Adult children
1999 39,624 100.0 35.9 3.2 7.4 53.5
2000 41,361 100.0 35.0 3.1 7.3 54.7
2001 40,552 100.0 33.0 3.0 8.0 56.0
2002 43,519 100.0 31.7 2.9 7.6 57.8
2003 44,938 100.0 31.0 2.7 8.2 58.2
2004 46,812 100.0 30.1 2.7 8.5 58.6
2005 48,575 100.0 28.5 2.5 8.3 60.7
2006 49,491 100.0 28.4 2.6 8.8 60.2
2007 54,895 100.0 28.3 2.6 9.0 60.1
2008 60,524 100.0 26.6 2.5 8.6 62.3
2009 67,079 100.0 24.8 2.5 8.8 63.9
2010 69,534 100.0 23.2 2.3 8.3 66.1
2011 69,356 100.0 21.9 2.3 7.9 67.9
2012 71,409 100.0 21.4 2.2 7.3 69.0
2013 68,931 100.0 21.0 2.0 7.0 70.0
2014 67,677 100.0 20.7 1.9 6.6 70.9
2015 72,687 100.0 19.7 1.7 5.9 72.7
2016 68,964 100.0 21.7 1.7 5.7 70.9
2017 69,955 100.0 23.2 1.8 5.6 69.5
2018 71,161 100.0 33.4 2.3 6.6 57.7
2019 56,164 100.0 65.0 4.1 12.1 18.8
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2020. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2020.
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 be subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Data include decisions for Social Security–only applications and applications for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); they do not include SSI-only claims.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
a. Includes applications for which the disability was previously established and those for which the basis for the determination is not available. The majority of applications for which the basis of determination is not available are cases allowed at or above the hearing level.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 65. Number and percentage distribution of final medical denials, by year of application and reason for denial, 1992–2019
Year Total Impairment did not or is not expected to last 12 months Impairment is not severe Able to do usual past work Able to do other type of work Other a
Number Percent
  All disabled beneficiaries
1999 450,051 100.0 10.2 17.8 28.3 30.8 12.9
2000 460,284 100.0 10.0 17.2 28.2 30.4 14.1
2001 500,414 100.0 9.2 16.7 28.0 31.1 14.9
2002 584,497 100.0 8.5 17.1 28.2 31.3 14.9
2003 636,769 100.0 7.5 17.7 28.2 31.8 14.9
2004 683,445 100.0 6.8 18.4 27.6 31.5 15.7
2005 649,134 100.0 6.5 19.2 26.7 31.4 16.3
2006 660,526 100.0 6.3 19.8 26.2 31.3 16.4
2007 649,725 100.0 6.3 20.4 26.3 30.9 16.0
2008 669,785 100.0 5.8 21.4 26.0 31.3 15.5
2009 800,192 100.0 4.6 22.5 25.4 32.3 15.1
2010 880,600 100.0 4.1 23.3 24.7 32.3 15.5
2011 893,624 100.0 3.9 23.8 20.4 33.6 18.3
2012 891,476 100.0 3.8 24.7 16.2 39.0 16.3
2013 847,706 100.0 4.0 25.0 15.1 42.4 13.6
2014 827,535 100.0 4.0 24.8 13.8 42.6 14.9
2015 785,224 100.0 4.1 24.3 11.7 43.0 16.8
2016 739,426 100.0 4.2 23.7 10.2 43.5 18.3
2017 685,451 100.0 4.2 24.0 9.1 43.4 19.3
2018 605,677 100.0 4.1 25.0 8.5 41.4 21.0
2019 509,969 100.0 4.3 24.8 8.6 41.8 20.5
  Workers
1992 487,164 100.0 10.7 22.9 28.4 29.6 8.4
1993 546,532 100.0 10.4 22.7 27.6 29.8 9.5
1994 578,664 100.0 10.2 21.5 25.9 28.8 13.6
1995 547,145 100.0 10.6 20.8 25.4 29.4 13.8
1996 542,493 100.0 10.2 19.6 24.7 30.6 14.8
1997 453,676 100.0 10.6 18.5 25.7 30.5 14.6
1998 426,158 100.0 10.8 18.3 27.8 30.8 12.3
1999 423,494 100.0 10.6 17.4 29.3 30.1 12.6
2000 434,363 100.0 10.4 16.8 29.3 29.7 13.9
2001 474,536 100.0 9.5 16.4 29.0 30.4 14.7
2002 554,996 100.0 8.8 16.8 29.2 30.6 14.7
2003 603,986 100.0 7.7 17.4 29.2 31.0 14.6
2004 648,622 100.0 7.0 18.2 28.5 30.8 15.4
2005 614,442 100.0 6.7 19.0 27.7 30.6 16.0
2006 620,571 100.0 6.5 19.5 27.4 30.6 16.0
2007 606,800 100.0 6.6 20.1 27.7 30.0 15.6
2008 625,607 100.0 6.1 21.1 27.4 30.3 15.1
2009 747,850 100.0 4.9 22.3 26.8 31.2 14.7
2010 822,772 100.0 4.3 23.2 26.1 31.2 15.2
2011 836,383 100.0 4.1 23.6 21.4 32.6 18.2
2012 834,023 100.0 4.0 24.5 17.0 38.4 16.1
2013 793,547 100.0 4.2 24.7 15.9 41.9 13.3
2014 777,355 100.0 4.1 24.5 14.4 42.3 14.7
2015 737,805 100.0 4.3 24.0 12.2 42.8 16.7
2016 695,707 100.0 4.4 23.4 10.6 43.4 18.2
2017 643,650 100.0 4.4 23.6 9.5 43.3 19.2
2018 564,407 100.0 4.3 24.4 8.9 41.4 21.0
2019 469,057 100.0 4.6 23.8 9.1 42.0 20.5
  Widow(er)s
1999 9,735 100.0 5.6 29.0 31.8 22.7 10.8
2000 9,024 100.0 5.3 29.0 31.4 22.3 12.1
2001 8,751 100.0 4.7 27.6 31.2 22.8 13.7
2002 8,959 100.0 4.8 25.5 32.9 23.9 13.0
2003 9,577 100.0 4.2 25.7 33.1 23.7 13.3
2004 9,576 100.0 3.6 26.5 32.2 23.0 14.7
2005 9,279 100.0 3.6 26.7 32.0 22.8 15.0
2006 9,812 100.0 3.8 25.7 31.6 23.1 15.9
2007 9,003 100.0 3.6 27.3 31.3 21.9 15.9
2008 8,653 100.0 3.3 27.8 30.8 21.9 16.2
2009 8,986 100.0 2.8 28.8 30.2 22.2 16.0
2010 9,789 100.0 2.7 29.3 27.9 24.0 16.0
2011 9,894 100.0 2.9 28.2 27.0 24.9 17.1
2012 10,134 100.0 2.3 28.8 23.5 28.4 17.0
2013 10,202 100.0 2.4 28.6 22.2 32.4 14.4
2014 9,907 100.0 2.3 27.5 21.5 33.0 15.7
2015 9,132 100.0 2.3 26.3 20.6 33.5 17.3
2016 8,430 100.0 2.3 26.1 17.3 35.0 19.2
2017 7,900 100.0 2.1 26.0 17.5 33.7 20.6
2018 7,578 100.0 2.1 26.9 14.8 33.2 23.0
2019 8,162 100.0 1.8 28.0 14.1 32.7 23.3
  Adult children
1999 16,822 100.0 3.1 22.7 0.7 53.3 20.2
2000 16,897 100.0 2.8 22.9 0.7 51.9 21.7
2001 17,127 100.0 2.5 21.3 0.9 52.9 22.3
2002 20,542 100.0 2.3 21.6 0.8 53.6 21.7
2003 23,206 100.0 2.0 21.8 0.7 53.6 21.9
2004 25,247 100.0 1.9 22.1 0.5 52.4 23.1
2005 25,413 100.0 1.8 21.3 0.4 52.8 23.8
2006 30,143 100.0 1.7 23.6 0.4 50.3 23.9
2007 33,922 100.0 1.6 24.0 0.3 49.9 24.2
2008 35,525 100.0 1.5 24.8 0.2 51.0 22.5
2009 43,356 100.0 1.2 23.4 0.1 53.5 21.8
2010 48,039 100.0 1.2 24.7 0.1 53.1 20.9
2011 47,347 100.0 1.0 26.2 0.0 52.6 20.1
2012 47,319 100.0 0.9 27.7 0.0 51.9 19.4
2013 43,957 100.0 0.9 28.2 0.0 52.2 18.8
2014 40,273 100.0 0.9 29.4 0.0 50.5 19.2
2015 38,287 100.0 0.8 30.0 0.0 49.4 19.7
2016 35,289 100.0 0.9 29.3 0.0 49.1 20.7
2017 33,901 100.0 0.8 31.2 0.0 47.5 20.5
2018 33,692 100.0 0.6 35.4 0.0 42.5 21.5
2019 32,750 100.0 0.6 38.1 0.0 40.9 20.3
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Disability Research file, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data for the initial and reconsideration levels are current through June 2020. Data for the hearing level or above are current through July 2020.
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 be subsequently denied for nonmedical reasons.
Data include decisions for Social Security–only applications and applications for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); they do not include SSI-only claims.
Data from 1992 through 1998 are available for disabled workers only.
a. Applicant has an impairment resulting from drug addiction or alcoholism, provided insufficient medical 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. Also includes cases denied at or above the hearing level for which the basis of determination is not available.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.