Each year, the Social Security Administration releases statistics about the disability and SSI programs in an easy-to-understand format, the “waterfall” chart. The chart shows what claimants can expect, statistically, for their claim for Social Security disability benefits.
The latest chart, for FY 2014, shows an ALJ allowance rate of 45% for claims at the hearing level.
Since 2010, ALJ allowance rates have fallen significantly each year (62% in FY 2010, 58% in 2011, 53% in 2012, 48% in 2013, and now 45% for 2014). That is a dramatic change over the course of just 4 years.