The statistics surrounding the denial and acceptance rates of Social Security Disability applications and appeals are quite staggering. An examination of the data presented in the accompanying infographic reveals that, at the application level, only 36% of applications were approved, with 64% of applications being denied. This equates to over 1.2 million people being denied benefits at this stage alone.
Proceeding to the Reconsideration level, which is the first level of appealing a denial, the approval rate drops to a mere 13%, with 87% of cases being denied. Unfortunately, only little over 500,000 people requested Reconsiderations, meaning that over 700,000 people never attempted to appeal their initial denial.
The Hearing level, where clients present their case before an Administrative Law Judge, presents a slightly more favorable outcome, with an average approval rate of 51%. However, this still leaves 42% of cases being denied, and only a little over 300,000 people proceeding to this level of the appeals process.
At the Appeals Council, the approval rate drops once again, with 85% of cases being denied in 2021. However, there is hope for those who choose to take their case to Federal Court, as the approval rate for remanded cases – those sent back to the judge for re-assessment – increases to 59%. It is worth noting that the number of people going to the Appeals Council dropped to 77,000 and those appealing to federal court go all the way down to a little over 17,000.
It is evident from these statistics that denials are common at the Application and Reconsideration levels, and that hundreds of thousands of individuals never progress beyond these stages. As such, it is imperative to appeal a denial of social security disability benefits. With the assistance of representatives and attorneys, such as those at the Law Office of Mark Schneider, clients can file appeals, obtain medical records, and secure the opinions of medical professionals to strengthen their cases. We understand that receiving a denial at the Reconsideration level can be disheartening, but it is a normal part of the process and should not be viewed as the end of the road. Our firm is willing to take cases to Federal Court, and we regularly do so for our clients. We also receive referrals from other representatives for us to assess if we will take their clients’ cases to Federal Court. If you are living in the Franklin County, Essex County, Clinton County, Warren County, Washington County, Albany County, New York area or the Malone, Massena, Ogdensburg, Potsdam, Canton, Plattsburgh, Lake Placid, Elizabethtown, Saranac Lake, Chateaugay, Ticonderoga, Moriah, Peru, Mooers, Champlain, Paul Smiths, Duane, St. Regis, Moira, Brushton, North Bangor, NY area, we are here to assist you. Please do not hesitate to contact us to schedule your FREE consultation or to obtain further information.
Image sourced: https://socsecnews.blogspot.com/2022/04/they-call-this-waterfall-chart.html?m=1
