The Social Security Administration (SSA) is a federal agency with local offices across the country. The SSA administers a variety of benefit programs funded by payroll contributions. Workers can secure retirement benefits if they have a substantial work history and require supplemental income when they cease working full-time.
People can also sometimes request Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if they become unable to work while they are still below retirement age. Those with truly disabling medical conditions that doctors believe should last a year or longer can potentially obtain SSDI benefits as a way of covering basic household expenses.
They can receive monthly payments until they reach retirement age and can start receiving retirement benefits. Unfortunately, many people feel like applying isn’t worth the effort because they have heard that the SSA denies every application it receives.
Is it true that all applicants get rejected when they request SSDI benefits?
Most applicants do not receive immediate approval
When looking at statistics about the outcome of SSDI applications, it is quite clear that the majority of people don’t receive benefits at all, and many of those who do must appeal to get benefits. The SSA publishes reports every decade showing the outcome of benefit applications.
According to data gathered between 2010 and 2019, only about one in five applicants gets approved initially. An average of 21% of applicants received an approval notice in the mail after initially applying, while the remaining 79% face rejection.
They then have to make the decision about whether or not to appeal. Appealing can be particularly useful for those who made mistakes in their paperwork or simply didn’t submit enough medical evidence to prove the severity of their conditions.
According to SSA records, another 10% of applicants get approved during the appeals process. Roughly 2% obtain benefits through reconsideration. Another 8% can obtain SSDI benefits after a hearing in front of an administrative law judge.
Successful appeals result in not just monthly payments but also often eligibility for backdated benefits. The final average annual approval rate for SSDI applications is roughly 31%. Just under one in three applicants eventually gets SSDI benefits.
Workers who need benefits because they can no longer support themselves may require help when applying for SSDI benefits or appealing, and that’s okay. Understanding that rejection is possible and appeals can be helpful may help keep applicants motivated throughout what can be a lengthy process.