 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
Do Most People Have To Go To A Disability Hearing in order to Get Approved For Disability?How to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits It may seem that most people have to go to a disability hearing to get approved for disability, but statistics indicate that more people are approved prior to the disability hearing level. The approval rate for initial disability claims is approximately thirty five percent, which means that thirty-five out of 100 initial disability claim applicants are approved at the first step, which is the disability application. The approval rate at the reconsideration appeal level is about 15 percent and that means that about 10 more individuals out of the 100 original disability applicants are approved for disability. So, about forty-five individuals out of every one hundred disability applicants win disability benefits before they could even get to the Social Security disability hearings level. If the remaining 55 individuals appeal their claim, roughly 33 more of these individuals from the starting group of 100 applicants may be approved for disability. So what does all of this say? That more individuals are approved for disability prior to the disability hearing. However, of all the levels of the disability process the disability hearings level has the highest approval rate. More than forty percent of all individuals who appeal their disability claim to the administrative law judge hearing will be approved for disability. Statistical information also seems to indicate that disability applicants who have representation are fifty percent more likely to be approved for disability benefits at the administrative law judge hearing than those who represent themselves at their disability hearing. In fact, the statistics indicate that while only about 40 percent of the disability applicants who represent themselves at their hearing are approved, sixty percent of the disability applicants with representation are approved for disability benefits at their hearing. It is logical to assume that disability applicants who are represented by disability attorneys and representatives (who are familiar with disability program medical and vocational rules and guidelines) would have a higher approval rate than most average disability applicants who are representing themselves. Most disability applicants know very little about the rules or guidelines that might help them present their disability cases in a manner that would likely result in an awarding of benefits. 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Individual Questions and Answers SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials |