Sorry that I missed the original to this. I said I "believe" not I "know" and I was speakin from personal experience because I am definitely no expert. I was given Allsup as an advocate through my long term disability company and they are one of the largest in the country. They are the ones who told me that while approval rates vary WILDLY, the norm is for the majority of the first time applications to be denied at the first level and it is a very high percentage. And it was in the 70s. I was also told by the SSA that the denial rate is quite high the first time around. Most of the websites linked in the sticky area also state that the denial percentages are quite high in the beginnnig. I would assume that if you have a slam dunk case it might be different. The ALJ I saw also stated that the denial rates were quite high the first several levels and told me that in MY case the initial denials were almost certainly because of my age and the fact that I was only 38 when this started.

So what I said was based on MY experience and the experience of one the largest disability advocates in the country. I dot think it was out of turn or out of place. I've read through DOZENS of this message boards and take most of it with a grain of salt, but the predominant experience is person after person being denied at the first and second levels and having to move on from there.

If you're lucky enough to get approved first time out...AWESOME! Otherwise it seems like you may have to move to NJ to get a favorable decision right away.

here are the 2006 allowal rates for initial application and reconsideration by state. New Jersey is on of the better states with a 46.6% allowal rate at initial application. Tennesse on the other hand had a 22% allowal rate at initial application. It really depends on what state you live in as you can see from the chart, so you are both right.Ha!.

http://www.ultimatedisabilityguide.c...ial_rates.html

Thanks for THIS!! IT certainly explains why people in my state seem so discouraged with the disability process!

CAN I JUST SAY... YEAH NEW JERSEY! I know that's closer to my percentage, not that I even have an interest in keeping such stats!!

That's all I'm sayin'...

Although it isn't mentioned in the statistics or this discussion, one of the reason claims are denied is that some claimants are just not disabled. And the front line employee has to take the same claim from whoever wants to file for whatever reason. Claimants for disability benefits include people can't find a job, don't want to work, don't like to work, don't have the job skills to get anything but entry level, have a bad attitude about employers, have never worked much and is afraid to try, like to make their own decisions and not be restricted by an employer's expectation, choose to live in a depressed job market city, and of course, those who have severe physical and mental medical conditions that are documented by medical records.

It is highly possible that states with high denial rates for SSDI are those in which the population files claims for benefits that they have no possiblity in qualifying for. Many people who file claims for disability are NOT disabled. And get denied. Factor that into your evaluation about denial rates.

Then there are claims for benefits filed by people who either have very little medical evidence or don't provide enough information about their existing evidence and expect that SSA will look long and hard to find it. Claims are often filed without addresses of treating sources; without dates of exams. The responsibility for proving you are disabled it ultimately yours. SSA employees want to make the right decision AND get the case off their desk. Factor that into your evaluation about denial rates as well.

Well, I guess all of the "fakers" will be moving out of Tennessee and into New Jersey. Jacquie, keep your eyes open!!

Okay jana, will do! Just one thing to add - in NJ, people who are on Welfare are very strongly encouraged to apply for disability. The Welfare folks want to get them off of their rolls, but it seldom works. Another thing that really gets me is, with some parents, their child is Dxed w/ ADHD, and practically the first thing they do is apply the child for disability??? My daughter was Dxed w/ ADHD when she was ten, and, geesh, applying her for disability never even entered my mind!!

Oh well, to each his own, I guess...

Jacquie, that is really odd -- my nephew was just diagnosed with ADHD, dysgraphia, and a visual processing disorder -- and someone at his school told us the SAME THING -- "go fill out an application for disability"!! Of course, BOTH of his parents are teachers -- and knew that he wouldn't qualify with their income. But, if people do NOT check into things like this BEFORE applying, it IS likely to clog up the system.

I guess I should mention that as a former guidance counselor, I HAVE filled out enough of the disability determination forms to know that children CAN receive disability checks in the state of Tennessee if their family income is below a certain level.

Children in any state can receive benedits. If they qualify and the
parents income is low enough. Or in some cases for other reasons.

Donna