What do you if you get a disability claim denial?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

When social security issues a decision on a claim (and this could be at the disability application level, reconsideration appeal level, or disability hearing level), a notice is sent to the claimant informing them of the decision. The decision letter will make vague reference as to why the claim was denied; but, it really won't explain in any reasonable amount of detail exactly why the person was given a denial.

As a former disability examiner, I can vouch for the relative uselessness of trying to extract any meaning from a notice of denial. These letters are basically boilerplate template letters that, for the most part, all look the same.

In nearly all cases, when a claimant receives a notice of denial on a claim, it is simply because the social security administration has reviewed the claimant's medical records and failed to find evidence of their inability to work due to one or more disabling conditions.

This, of course, happens more than seventy percent of the time when a disability application is reviewed, and the percentage for denial goes up even more sharply for individuals who are submitting requests for reconsideration (the first appeal level is the reconsideration).

What evidence will the social security administration need in order to approve a disability claim? The evidence must do the following:

1. It must show that the claimant has at least one severe impairment.

2. It must show that the impairment is limiting enough that the claimant cannot be expected to do their past work.

3. It must show that the impairment is limiting enough that the claimant could not be expected to find some type of other work that would provide for a substantial and gainful income.

4. The claimant's condition must be this disabling for a period no shorter than a year.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Topics and Questions

Supplemental Security Income - SSI Disability?

How often does someone get disability approved in just a few months ?

How many disability appeals do you get ?

Can you still Appeal if the Judge denies your Disability Claim?

Applying for disability benefits in Georgia

Qualifying for Disability - What is Social Security Looking for?

Filing for Social Security Disability — A few steps to take

How long does it take to get a decision on Social Security disability ?

The Medical Vocational Allowance for Social Security Disability and SSI cases

Does social security care if you are working when you are applying for disability?

What Is The Social Security Disability Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire?

Filing for Social Security disability- what to bring when you apply

What are the Requirements for Social Security Disability and SSI?

Medical Requirements for both Social Security Disability and SSI

Applying for Disability - How long does it take to get Social Security benefits?

Social Security Disability SSI Criteria

Are SSI and Social Security Disability Requirements Tougher For Mental Claims?

What are the Application Requirements For SSI Disability?

When do you see a judge for a social security disability or SSI claim?

How to Apply for Disability - Where do I go to apply for disability ?

Can the Social Security Office give you Bad Advice on a Disability Claim?

Filing for SSD Disability - When Should You put in a Claim?

Are There Social Security Disability Guidelines For How Disabled You Have to Be?

Do You Qualify For SSDI Benefits from SSA? (Social Security Disability Insurance)

Social Security Disability Representation Issues

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Missouri

Filing for Disability - Can you speed up the Social Security Disability process?

The Sequence of Steps to be Approved for Social Security Disability or SSI

Are the Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Higher at a Social Security Hearing with a Judge?

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