How many disability or ssi claims get denied ?

The numbers on this tend to vary year by year. And most applicants for social security disability or SSI disability would probably be surprised to learn that the numbers vary by state (surprising since these programs are federal and standardized). However, rates of approval and rates of denial do vary considerably depending on which state a person lives. Typically, rates of denial tend to be higher in southern states and disability approval rates tend to be higher in northern states. Why this is true, however, is anybody's guess.

Nationally, the average statistics tend to point this way: Initial claims for social security disability and SSI disability claims tend to be denied at the rate of 70%, while first appeals are denied at about 85%. Cases that go before disability judges at disability hearings do much better, of course. Approximately forty percent of claims heard by judges are approved for claimants who are not represented, while a bit more than sixty percent of claimants who are represented have their claims approved.