http://www.ssdfacts.com/national

Janke, I think you maybe reversing the percentages? The link you provide state's 34% approval.

I think the chart is misleading because it just considers percentages approved, not total numbers. The majority of claims that are approved are done so at the initial level, so rather that take the percentages in the chart, I did my own math. Here it is.

Initial claims 3,295,806 claims cleared; 34% approved. Total approved 1,120,574.

Reconsideration 819,710 cleared; 12% approved. Total approved 98,365.

Hearing 662,765 cleared; 58% approved. Total approved 384,403.

Appeals Council 103,271 cleared; 2% approved. Total approved 2,073.

Court 13,271 cleared; 3% approved. Total approved 398.

Add up total approvals at all levels 1,605,813. 1,120,574 of the total clearances were at the initial level. 69% of all claims approved in 2011 were done so at the initial level.

I did not add up the total of denials and it is true that there are many more of them than approvals. The point is that SSA approves initial applications for SSI and SSDI every day, average over 3000 a day, if you include federal holidays and Saturdays and Sundays.

Not a system that is totally broken by any standard.

Ok, I'm a "math person" -- and quite accustomed to seeing statistics used to prove a person's point of view (all you have to do is look at the news -- a Dem-leaning station will use numbers to PROVE one thing, a Rep-leaning station will use the SAME numbers to PROVE the opposite thing).

I really don't think that is what Janke is trying to do here. The POINT is that your BEST shot for getting approved IS on your FIRST try. Janke is saying, IMHO, that the system isn't "broken" because it DOES "usually" make the "right" decision on the first try (at least from what the statistics show).

Initial claims 3,295,806 claims cleared; 34% approved. Total approved 1,120,574 = 69.78%

Reconsideration 819,710 cleared; 12% approved. Total approved 98,365 = 6.12%

Hearing 662,765 cleared; 58% approved. Total approved 384,403 = 23.94%

Appeals Council 103,271 cleared; 2% approved. Total approved 2,073 = 0.12%

Court 13,271 cleared; 3% approved. Total approved 398 = 0.02%

HOWEVER, I would RESPECTFULLY disagree -- in that at the hearing level, 23.94% seems like an AWFULLY high number of people to have "fallen through the cracks" from the reconsideration level of 6.12%. I think that THIS is what has so many bewildered, upset, and dismayed.

Thanks. My main point in this analysis is that disability claims ARE approved at the initial level.

I also think there are multiple reasons that 23% of approvals are done at the hearings level.
1. Poorly prepared claims have missing information and the claims rep w ho takes the claim has limited time to spend assisting the claimant and the DDS analyst has limited time to search for information that is not provided. Some claimants believe that the medical records speak for themselves and that is simply not true when it comes to disability decisions.

2. Time has gone by. A marginal medical condition has gotten worse; an expected improvement in functioning has not happened; the claimant has had more medical tests and exams and there is more evidence.

3. ALJ's see claimants. DDS analysts do not. The visual and verbal interaction is one more piece of evidence that the ALJ has that the DDS analyst does not have.

4. ALJ's have greater discretion in applying the rules than DDS analysts. They are expected to and allowed to interpret law. DDS analysts do not have law degrees and have more tight control on the decisions they make. But this judicial discretion also creates what SSA calls 'outlier' ALJ's. Some (one in West Virginia comes to mind) approved virtually every claim that came before him and cherry picked the claimants belonging to one attorney. Everyone can see how that smacks of collusion to defraud, not what is correct for an ALJ. But then there are also the 80 year old ALJ who thinks that if he can still work, so can just about everyone else and denies almost all claims. So, there are many claims that are approved by an ALJ that just cannot be approved by the DDS analyst.

5. When a lawyer takes a case to an ALJ, the hearing is really a lawyer to lawyer conversation. And lawyers like to talk law. They like to talk to lawyers and make arguments. I think there will always be a bit of the good ol' boy (or girl) club between reps and ALJ's. And I think that can factor in to decisions as well.

Janke, I think your points are WELL made. Still, I wish that the system could be "tweaked". Much like the unjustly incarcerated individual who is given a monetary settlement -- it just does NOT make up for the time lost. IMHO, with the ridiculous amount of time that it takes for cases in some states to come before an ALJ, lives are already virtually ruined -- even a LARGE backpay award doesn't always help get a house, car, good credit, etc. back.

Sadly, it seems like the more educated as to the process the applicant is, the more likely they will prevail. It saddens me for those who do not have GOOD "help" and/or computer access.

Those that are uneducated, don't speak English, etc. actually have an easier time getting approved if they have a borderline case... This is because they can't adapt to the job market as easily.

I wasn't a good advocate for myself during different stages of my application process... (I was less functional then in some ways then I am now.) I ultimately prevailed at the ALJ level without an attorney. Understanding what is required to prove a SSD case feels like learning a foreign language that very few people speak (including many successful SSD benefactors) and I know that I know just the basics, where as someone like Janke is a native speaker...

The REALITY is that once you are disabled, I would estimate most people will experience a decline in their standard of living. Many must seriously consider relocating if they live in an area that has a high cost of living.

One more thing about Janke--it blows my mind that anyone that spends any amount of time at this forum, doesn't realize what an amazing resource she is. IMO, she states the facts and is not overly biased towards SS. She just gives solid info. This is more valuable IMO, then some that are here to provide moral support, but are clueless about the intricacies of the rules and regs.

Are YOU on SSD and did YOU win on your first try?? If so, give us some details about that please.

No I am not.

OLDCARP, we do a LOT of speculating about Janke!! I suspect a current/retired SSA employee or a FREAKING GENIUS!! Whatever -- just glad to have the knowledge and advice!

I dunno -- there might be a FEW people in here who won on the first try -- but, WHY would you join a group IF you didn't have any problems getting approved?? The whole point of seeking a forum, IMHO, is to find out WHAT, if anything, you might be able to do DIFFERENTLY. So, I think that most of the people here "probably" are gonna be RECONSIDERATION (like me) or HEARING (ALJ) "winners".