Why So Many Social Security Disability Claims Are Denied by the SSA (2024)

FAQs

Why So Many Social Security Disability Claims Are Denied by the SSA? ›

The Social Security Administration denies benefits claims for various reasons, ranging from a lack of supporting evidence to inaccuracies in the application. Working with an experienced disability lawyer is the best thing to do after receiving a claims denial letter.

SSDI applications are frequently denied because they don't have enough information to enable the SSA to award you SSDI benefits. It is better to appeal a denial first before submitting a new application. An appeal comprises multiple levels, so you can correct or supplement your application through this process.

This is often due to a lack of medical evidence or missing paperwork, and can result in a denial without anyone having reviewed the actual merits of your claim. All of these factors have resulted in the Social Security Administration having a backlog of nearly one million cases.

Over 60% of long-term disability insurance claims are denied for various reasons, including insurance adjuster mistakes, missing deadlines, and insufficient documentation. An experienced long-term disability lawyer can evaluate your case and improve your chances of a successful long-term disability appeal.

The aging of the workforce has slowed with the baby boom moving into retirement, and women's labor force participation has levelled off. Indeed, recent data suggest that the trajectory of the program has shifted. After peaking in 2014, the stock of beneficiaries has been declining (see Figure 1).

What Is the Most Approved Disability? Arthritis and other musculoskeletal system disabilities make up the most commonly approved conditions for social security disability benefits. This is because arthritis is so common. In the United States, over 58 million people suffer from arthritis.

These can include medical, financial, or criminal activities. You may have also committed some form of error or omission in your application. Most likely, it will involve the severity of your disability and the degree to which the SSA determines that you are able to provide for yourself.

It has been shown that disabled applicants over 50 are twice as likely to be approved than those under 50. One study revealed an upward curve in approval rates, with younger applicants being approved at significantly lower rates than seniors.

What gives 100% disability? ›

The 100 percent disability rating is often awarded to veterans with two or more limbs that have been amputated or paralyzed or for veterans with active service-related diseases such as cancer, severe cardiac conditions, or psychiatric conditions such as PTSD, bipolar, depression, or schizophrenia.

Thirty-eight percent of applicants who meet technical requirements are accepted initially, but 53% of applicants who appeal that decision are ultimately approved.

The so-called “five-year rule” for Social Security disability allows people who have already received disability benefits to skip a required waiting period in the re-application process after they've returned to work.

To receive a rating of 100 percent, there must be sufficient evidence to support the severity of the service-connected condition. This can come from medical documentation as well as testimony from friends, family, co-workers, and others who can attest to the seriousness of the disability.

One of the cons of being on disability is the potential impact on your future work opportunities. While SSDI allows for a trial work period and offers work incentives to help you transition back to employment, many beneficiaries find it difficult to return to the workforce after an extended period of benefits.

One of the primary disadvantages of Social Security disability is the limited income it provides. SSDI benefits are calculated based on your average lifetime earnings before your disability began, and the amount you receive may be significantly lower than your previous income.

There's no official “five-year rule,” but the phrase refers to a process called “expedited reinstatement,” or EXR. You can file for EXR if you received disability benefits within the past five years, stopped collecting those benefits and need to apply for disability benefits again.