RE: SSDI Applicant Approval/Denial Rates

I see many many people quote a rate of 90% denial for first round in the application process as standard when applying for disability benefits.
I'm not entirely sure where this comes from, but I have a couple ideas:
Many people are much more likely to be vocal about being denied benefits than being approved, for various reasons- including getting a lot of crap for being approved.
e.g."Why did you get approved? You don't seem that bad.", which I have personally experienced and observed.

Also, approval rates vary depending upon what stage of the application process is being referred to. At one stage it is estimated to be about 10%, but the initial stage is about one third.

Approval rates also vary by state.

An annual statistical report on Outcomes of Applications for Disability Benefits is available through 2010.

One of the more relevant charts in the report:
Chart 11: Final outcome of disabled-worker applications, 2001–2010

I just thought maybe this was a good idea to bring up for discussion?

I just had a conversation with a rep from Soc. Sec. - She was pretty adamant that I shouldn't believe it when "everyone says the first time you'll get denied." I didn't look at your chart, but I've been told that Ohio has one of the highest denial rates. I'm fully anticipating a denial - if I'm proven wrong and get approved well color me happy, but I'm not going to hold my breath. I've already contacted attorney offices about filing an appeal, and they're standing by like me to hear the decision on the initial app.

I was approved on my first try, however it was a long process which included being diagnosed as smi, seriously mentally ill, by the state. Then I applied for ssdi, and was required to see one of SSA's drs. It took approximately 10 months but I was approved. That was 10 years ago.

I was approved on the first time. At that time I was on long term disability from the hospital where I worked and the hospital hired attorneys to process my case. The hospital benefited by me getting SSDI because they did not have to pay me as much for long term disability after I was approved.

I don't recall seeing or hearing any estimate as a percentage. Back in the 90's I applied on the advice of a psychiatrist, a therapist, and my MD. When my case was denied they told me that most or almost everyone is initially denied. I went back to playing music where it's sort of okay to be crazy.
I applied again about two years ago. My doctor and the doctor hired by SS for the evaluation both said I wasn't able to work. SS admin disagreed. I had an attorney but he forgot to file the appeal on time. An SS employee contacted me and said I should file a special appeal due to the attorney's error. I did. It was denied. I'll either sink or swim. Kind of dogpaddling ATM. I really would like to have all the money back that I paid into the program

If you check out the links I supplied, there are specific stats for several years leading up to 2010 on approval and denial, segregated by phase/round. They are also available by state though I did not include links to that.

ETA:
Also, this has enough relevant statistics to keep anyone occupied for the entire time they are waiting on a decision- Annual Disability Statistics Compendium

Just live long enough, George Social Security is Social Security; some get it starting earlier because of disability and the rest of us. . .

I don't think we think of that as much; if the Social Security system has a problem/runs out of money, that's for ALL of us, disabled as well as the "healthy" retired.

You're right Perna. That last part was just an unnecessary rant and since I don't like rants in general I'm even more regretful about posting it. To stay on topic my docs simply stated that most people are denied. They didn't mention any percentage that I recall and I don't know where their information came from.

George- I'm not going to tell you how to feel about your current situation, most certainly when I don't know explicit details, so obviously react and retract those reactions as you wish.

I don't personally feel that was a "rant", nor unnecessary to post. If you are unable to work, at some point you don't actually have a choice about retirement. It's pretty much thrust upon you.

And the kicker is, if you can't work, but the SSA disagrees, you are seen as lazy or worse but have little to no money coming in to boot. Even if you can kinda-sorta-work but not to the extent where you can get decent health coverage or reliable income, you are kind of screwed because then you can't properly take care of your mental health and it's like a sick cycle.

It's not like you were comparing your personal "entitlement" to the money you have put in to anyone else's supposed "entitlement" to the same. You can be frustrated and disappointed without having to push other people lower than yourself- which is pretty much what you did.

I personally think you are fine here, George.
We all have to get it out sometimes, lest the negative eat us up.

But, I don't know details.
So.

I heard that people are not easily approved on the first try, but I was approved. I think a lot of it has to do with not only your evals, but also the slant of the worker to whom you are assigned. This is just my theory, but I know my worker pushed to get my evals/info in, and wrote the recommendation herself without the doctors necessarily seeing the paperwork before that. I don't know what I did to deserve that, but I'm eternally grateful.

I think it's that they want the person to be determined and make an effort. I heard they deny automatically but my T says she's had patients be accepted. She also said I have a good chance because my diagnosis is serious. (Not her word,mine) i forgot which she said.

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