Disability Decision Data

*Includes Title II, Title XVI, and concurrent initial disability determinations and appeals decisions issued in FY 2018, regardless of the year in which the initial claim was filed, and regardless of whether the claimant ever received benefits (in a small number of cases with a favorable disability decision benefits are subsequently denied because the claimant does not meet other eligibility requirements.) Does not include claims where an eligibility determination was reached without a determination of disability. If a determination or appeals decision was made on Title II and Title XVI claims for the same person, the results are treated as one concurrent decision.

Prepared by: SSA, ODPMI (Office of Disability Program Management Information)

Date Prepared: January 15, 2019

Data Sources:

• Initial and Reconsideration Data: SSA State Agency Operations Report
• About 22% of initial level denials are issued in States that use the Disability Prototype process, which eliminates the reconsideration step of the appeals process. The first level of appeal for these cases is a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
• Federal Court data includes appeals of Continuing Disability Reviews.