U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Policy.
SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2006
 
Outcomes of Applications for Disability Benefits
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.
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