Applying for Social Security Disability – What Are My Chances for an Approval?
In a number of previous posts, we discussed how Social Security goes about deciding claims for Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. See – Substantial Gainful Activity, Severe Impairments and the Listing of Impairments, Past Relevant Work and Perform Other Work respectively
Most individuals who apply for SSD or SSI disability benefits need to be prepared for the long haul, as in the short run the odds of an approval are not great, however, in the long run an individual has a fair chance of being awarded disability benefits. Recent nationwide statistics (see – Outcomes of Applications for Disability Benefits) from the Social Security Administration show (please note – the timeframes mentioned below are based on our local experience, your mileage may vary for better or worse):
a) Initial Applications are denied approximately 68% of the time and these take 5 – 6 months on average to process, but can take nine months or more.
b) Requests for Reconsideration (the first appeal) are denied about 87% of the time and these take 4 – 5 months on average to process, but can take six months or more.
c) Hearings before a Social Security administrative law judge (ALJ) (the second appeal) are approved about 50% of the time – the wait to get to a hearing varies greatly depending on which hearing office you are dealing with (the time varies from 7 to 24 months at the various hearings offices around the country), in our area the current wait is approximately 12 – 15 months (it has been as high as 25 months in the past few years).
d) Appeals of unfavorable or partially favorable ALJ decisions to the Appeals Council are denied 74% of the time, dismissed 2% of the time, and 22% of such appeals are remanded (sent back for another ALJ hearing.)
e) Appeals of unfavorable Appeals Council decisions to United States District Court were denied 40% of the time, dismissed 9% of the time and remanded 47% of the time.
In a future post we will look at these numbers in another way that is more hopeful than the above information would seem to be. Down the road we also will discuss why it is important to have strong representation on your Social Security claim – until then we offer one more piece of statistical information –
According to the General Accounting office of the US Government, the percentage of ultimately favorable decisions for claimants with attorney representation was about 61% compared to 39% without representation. With representation you are more likely to win your Social Security Disability benefits.
In my opinion you should get an attorney as early in the process as possible as there is no fee unless you are awarded benefits (contingency) and the fees are set by Social Security law and approved by the Social Security Administration and are the same regardless if you hire your attorney the week before your hearing or the day you originally applied.
The attorneys of Cascadia Disability Law help people just like YOU! We fight to get you the benefits you deserve at the earliest stage possible in the claim process. Call or email us anytime – 503-891-8376 / 800-891-0867, Help@CascadiaDisabilityLaw.com
–> Contact us BEFORE you apply, and apply right the first time!