Welcome! This site is written for Social Security disability claimants, for their legal representatives, and for the network of people involved in the Social Security disability claim process. I hope you find it helpful.
Free Claim Review

SSA has released the “waterfall” chart for fiscal year 2021.

The chart show what percentage of disability claims were granted and denied nationwide at each level of review:

  • 36% were granted after an initial review of the application. That’s a bit more than 1 out of 3.
  • Just 13% of the claims appealed were granted at Reconsideration. So 7 out of 8 were denied a second time.
  • 51% were granted at the hearing level.
  • Of those unfavorable hearing decisions that were appealed, 85% were denied at the Appeals Council.
  • And for those claims that went to federal court, 59% were remanded.

The lesson is: appeal your disability claim if it is denied.